View source for Christmas Island

{{Short description|External territory of Australia}}
{{About|the Australian territory in the Indian Ocean|the I-Kiribati island in the Pacific Ocean|Kiritimati|other uses}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox dependency
| name                          = Christmas Island
| image_flag                    = Flag of Christmas Island.svg
| flag_size                     = 130px
| flag_link                     = Flag of Christmas Island
| official_name                 = Territory of Christmas Island<br />{{nobold|{{native name|zh|聖誕島領地}}<br />{{native name|ms|Wilayah Pulau Krismas}}}}
| settlement_type               = [[Australian Indian Ocean Territories|Australian Indian Ocean Territory]]<br />[[States and territories of Australia#External territories|External territory of Australia]]
| image_skyline                 =
| image_caption                 =
| image_seal                    =
| seal_size                     =
| seal_type                     =
| seal_link                     =
| motto                         =
| anthem                        =
| song_type                     =
| song                          =
| image_map                     = Australia on the globe (Christmas Island special) (Southeast Asia centered).svg
| map_alt                       = Location of Christmas Island (red circle) and the location of the Australian mainland (continent in red)
| map_caption                   = Location of Christmas Island (red circle) and the location of the Australian mainland (continent in red)
| subdivision_type              = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name              = {{flagu|Australia}}
| established_title             = British annexation
| established_date              = 6 June 1888
| established_title2            = Transferred from Singapore to Australia
| established_date2             = 1 October 1958
| official_languages            = None{{efn|English does not have official status on Christmas Island nor in Australia, but it is the ''de facto'' language of communication in government.}}
| languages_type                = Spoken languages
| languages                     = {{hlist|[[English language|English]]|[[Malay language|Malay]]|[[Standard Chinese|Mandarin]]|[[Cantonese language|Cantonese]]|[[Hokkien language|Hokkien]]}}
| capital                       = [[Flying Fish Cove]]<br />("The Settlement")
| coordinates                   = {{Coord|10|25|18|S|105|40|41|E|type:city}}
| largest_city                  = capital
| demonym                       = Christmas Islander
| ethnic_groups                 = {{plainlist|
* 22.2% [[Chinese Australians|Chinese]]
* 17% [[Australians]]
* 16.1% [[Malay (ethnic group)|Malays]]
* 12.5% [[English people|English]]
* 3.8% [[Indonesians]]<ref name="quickStat 2021">{{Cite web |title=2021 Christmas Island, Census All persons QuickStats|website= Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/LGA51710#cultural-diversity |access-date=20 August 2024 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|department=Cultural Diversity}}</ref>{{efn|Ethnicities listed are the most frequent responses, so do not add up to 100%.<ref name="quickStat 2021"/> In 2021, other Christmas Island ethnic groups included:<ref name="gcp"/> {{hlist|Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (or both) – 3.3% |Filipino – 1.5% |Indian – 1.4% |Irish – 3.3% |Scottish – 2.8%}} In addition, the ABS notes: "Respondents had the option of reporting up to two ancestries on their Census form, and this is captured by the Ancestry multi response (ANCP) variable{{nbsp}}... Therefore, the sum of all ancestry responses for an area will not equal the total number of people in the area."{{pb}}Other ethnicities not covered within the Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups (ASCCEG) 2019 are grouped together as "other".<ref>{{cite web |title=Australian Standard Classification of Cultural and Ethnic Groups (ASCCEG), 2019 |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/classifications/australian-standard-classification-cultural-and-ethnic-groups-ascceg/2019 |website= Australian Bureau of Statistics |language=en |date=18 December 2019}}</ref> These include "inadequately described" and other non-standard or broad self-designations such as: African, Asian, Caucasian, Creole, Eurasian, European.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ancestry 1st response (ANC1P) |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/guide-census-data/census-dictionary/2021/variables-topic/cultural-diversity/ancestry-1st-response-anc1p |website=Australian Bureau of Statistics |language=en |date=15 October 2021}}</ref> There were 409 (24.2%) of these ''other'' responses and 453 (26.8%) "not stated" responses for Christmas Island in 2021.<ref name="gcp">{{citation|title=2021 Census of Population and Housing – General Community Profile: Christmas Island (LGA51710)|date=2022 |author= ((Australian Bureau of Statistics))|url=https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/community-profiles/2021/LGA51710|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia}}</ref>
}}
 }}
| ethnic_groups_year            = 2021
| government_type               = [[Direct rule|Directly administered]] dependency
| leader_title1                 = [[Monarchy of Australia|Monarch]]
| leader_name1                  = {{Current Australian monarch|Charles III}}
| leader_title2                 = [[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]]
| leader_name2                  = [[Sam Mostyn]]
| leader_title3                 = [[List of administrative heads of Christmas Island|Administrator]]
| leader_name3                  = [[Farzian Zainal]]
| leader_title4                 = [[Shire of Christmas Island#Presidents of the Shire of Christmas Island|Shire President]]
| leader_name4                  = Steven Pereira 
| national_representation       = [[Parliament of Australia]]
| national_representation_type1 = [[Australian Senate|Senate]]
| national_representation1      = represented by [[List of senators from the Northern Territory (Australia)|Northern Territory senators]]
| national_representation_type2 = [[House of Representatives (Australia)|House of Representatives]]
| national_representation2      = included in the [[Division of Lingiari]]
| area_km2                      = 135
| area_sq_mi                    = 52
| percent_water                 = 0
| elevation_max_m               = 361
| elevation_max_ft              =
| population_census             = 1,692<ref name=Census2021/>
| population_census_rank        = not ranked
| population_census_year        = 2021
| population_density_km2        = 10.39
| population_density_sq_mi      = 26.96
| population_density_rank       = not ranked
| GDP_PPP                       =
| GDP_PPP_rank                  =
| GDP_PPP_year                  =
| GDP_PPP_per_capita            =
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank       =
| GDP_nominal                   = $52.1 million<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lundy|first=Kate|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=/ncet/economicenvironment/report/chapter%203.pdf|title=Inquiry into the changing economic environment in the Indian Ocean Territories|publisher=Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories|year=2010|isbn=978-0-642-79276-1|location=Parliament House, Canberra|pages=22|chapter=Chapter 3: The economic environment of the Indian Ocean Territories}}</ref>
| GDP_nominal_rank              =
| GDP_nominal_year              = 2010
| GDP_nominal_per_capita        =
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank   =
| HDI_year                      =
| HDI_change                    = <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI                           = <!--number only-->
| currency                      = [[Australian dollar]] (AU$)
| currency_code                 = AUD
| timezone                      = [[Christmas Island Time|CXT]]
| utc_offset                    = +07:00
| drives_on                     = left
| calling_code                  = [[Telephone numbers in Australia|+61 8 91]]{{efn|name=wa|A part of the allocation to [[Western Australia]]}}
| postal_code_type              = [[Postcodes in Australia#External territories|Postcode]]
| postal_code                   = 6798{{efn|name=wa}}
| iso_code                      = [[ISO 3166-2:CX|CX]]
| cctld                         = [[.cx]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Christmas Island Domain Administration |url=https://cxda.org.cx/ |website=cxda.org.cx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028010757/https://cxda.org.cx/ |archive-date=28 October 2022}}</ref>
| named_for                     = [[Christmas|Christmas Day]], when it was first sighted by Europeans
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| name    = Christmas Island
| order   = st
| t       = 聖誕島
| s       = 圣诞岛
| p       = Shèngdàn Dǎo
| j       = {{Tone superscript|Sing3daan3 Dou2}}
| poj     = Sèng-tàn-tó
| altname = Territory of Christmas Island
| t2      = 聖誕島領地
| s2      = 圣诞岛领地
| p2      = Shèngdàn Dǎo Lǐngdì
| j2      = {{Tone superscript|Sing3daan3 Dou2 Ling5dei6}}
| poj2    = Sèng-tàn-tó Léng-tē
| ms      = Wilayah Pulau Krismas
}}
{{Coord|10|29|24|S|105|37|39|E|region:CX_type:isle_dim:30000|display=title}}

'''Christmas Island''', officially the '''Territory of Christmas Island''',<!-- PLEASE DO NOT ADD OR REVERT OFFICIAL LANGUAGES. AN INFOBOX IS ATTACHED ABOVE --> is an [[States and territories of Australia#External territories|Australian external territory]] in the [[Indian Ocean]] comprising the island of the same name. It is about {{convert|350|km|nmi|abbr=off}} south of [[Java]] and [[Sumatra]] and about {{Convert|1550|km|nmi|abbr=on}} north-west of the closest point on the [[mainland Australia|Australian mainland]]. It has an area of {{convert|135|km2|sqmi|frac=2}}.<ref name="Area">[https://www.mycouncil.wa.gov.au/Council/ViewCouncil/25 Shire of Christmas Island]</ref> Christmas Island's geographic isolation and history of minimal human disturbance has led to a high level of [[endemism]] among its flora and fauna, which is of interest to scientists and naturalists.<ref name="wilderness society">{{cite web |url=http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/marine/christmas_island/save_ci/ |title=Save Christmas Island – Introduction |publisher=The Wilderness Society |access-date=14 April 2007 |date=19 September 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609110000/http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/marine/christmas_island/save_ci/ |archive-date=9 June 2007}}</ref> The territory derives its name from its discovery on [[Christmas|Christmas Day]] 1643 by Captain [[William Mynors]].

The first European to sight Christmas Island was Richard Rowe of the ''Thomas'' in 1615. Mynors gave it its name. It was first settled in the late 19th century, after abundant [[phosphate]] deposits were found (originally deposited as [[guano]]) which led Britain to annex the island in 1888 and begin commercial mining in 1899.<ref name="lus19">{{cite web |first=Stephen |last=Luscombe |url=https://www.britishempire.co.uk/maproom/christmasisland.htm |title=Christmas Island |website=The British Empire |year=2019 |access-date=16 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104153136/https://www.britishempire.co.uk/maproom/christmasisland.htm|archive-date=4 January 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Japanese invaded the island in 1942 to secure its phosphate deposits. After the end of Japanese occupation, the island's administration was restored to Singapore, but it was transferred to Australia in 1958, where it has remained since.

Christmas Island had a population of 1,692 {{as of|2021|lc=y}},<ref name=Census2021/> with most living in settlements on its northern edge. The main settlement is [[Flying Fish Cove]], known simply as The Settlement. Other settlements include [[Poon Saan]], [[Drumsite]], and [[Silver City, Christmas Island|Silver City]]. Historically, [[Asian Australians]] of [[Chinese Australians|Chinese]], [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]], and [[Indian Australians|Indian]] descent were the majority of the population.<ref name="SCMP">{{cite web |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/2124098/christmas-island-next-big-thing-travel-home-chinese |title=Christmas Island – the next big thing in travel? Home to Chinese, Indians, and Malays, it's a fascinating mix of cultures |last1=Neville-Hadley |first1=Peter |date=14 December 2017 |website=www.scmp.com |publisher=[[South China Morning Post]] |access-date=17 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215234632/http://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/2124098/christmas-island-next-big-thing-travel-home-chinese |archive-date=15 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AUFPPlatypus/1980/36.pdf |title=The Christmas Island Story |magazine=AUFP Platypus |year=1980 |volume=36 |pages=12–13 |access-date=7 December 2019 |archive-date=7 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207110541/http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AUFPPlatypus/1980/36.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Today, around two-thirds of the island's population is estimated to have [[Peranakans#Straits Chinese|Straits Chinese]] origin (though just 22.2% of the population declared Chinese ancestry in 2021),<ref name=Census2021/> with significant numbers of Malays and [[European Australians]] and smaller numbers of Straits Indians and Eurasians. Several languages are in use, including English, [[Malay language|Malay]], and various Chinese dialects.

Religious beliefs vary geographically. The Anglo-Celtic influence in the capital is closely tied to Catholicism, whereas Buddhism is common in Poon Saan, and Sunni Islam is generally observed in the shoreline [[Malay Kampong Group|water village]] where the Malays live.<ref name="ethnic">{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Regina |date=2 February 2013 |title=Christmas Island's ethnic groups |work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]] |place=Malaysia |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/travel/oceania/2013/02/02/christmas-islands-ethnic-groups |url-status=live |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728125415/https://www.thestar.com.my/travel/oceania/2013/02/02/christmas-islands-ethnic-groups |archive-date=28 July 2020}}</ref>

The majority (63%) of the island is made up of [[Christmas Island National Park]], which features several areas of primary [[monsoon]]al forest.

==History==
[[File:Ah Dampier, you would have made them but a sorry meal. (Dampier and Swan on the Cygnet).jpg|thumb|left|[[William Dampier]] (left) and Charles Swan (right) aboard the latter's ship ''Cygnet'', as illustrated in a work by [[Jules Verne]]. Dampier was the first visitor to Christmas Island in 1688.]]

===First visits by Europeans, 1643===
The first European to sight the island was Richard Rowe of the ''Thomas'' in 1615.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last1=James |first1=David J. |last2=Mcallan |first2=Ian A.W. |title=The birds of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean: A review |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274639116 |website=ResearchGate |publisher=Australian Field Ornithology |access-date=20 January 2017 |date=August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202000221/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274639116_The_birds_of_Christmas_Island_Indian_Ocean_A_review |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Captain [[William Mynors]] of the [[East India Company]] vessel ''Royal Mary'' named the island when he sailed past it on Christmas Day in 1643.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/christmas/culture-history/island-history.html |title=Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts – Christmas Island History |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=26 April 2009 |date=8 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304001240/http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/christmas/culture-history/island-history.html |archive-date=4 March 2012 }}</ref> The island was included on English and Dutch navigation charts early in the 17th century, but it was not until 1666 that a map published by Dutch cartographer [[Pieter Goos]] included the island. Goos labelled the island "Mony" or "Moni",<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Christmas Island |volume=6 |pages=294–295}}</ref> the meaning of which is unclear.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=nla.map-nk1574-sd&rgn=0.5309855310%2C0.5141004862%2C0.6401856402%2C0.6437601297&cmd=zoomin&width=400&x=200&y=199 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805120217/http://www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=nla.map-nk1574-sd&rgn=0.5309855310,0.5141004862,0.6401856402,0.6437601297&cmd=zoomin&width=400&x=200&y=199 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=Digital Collections – Maps – Goos, Pieter, ca. 1616–1675. Paskaerte Zynde t'Oosterdeel Van Oost Indien (cartographic material) : met alle de Eylanden deer ontrendt geleegen van C. Comorin tot aen Iapan |publisher=National Library of Australia |access-date=26 April 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The naming of Christmas Island |url=https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/articles/the-naming-of-christmas-island |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Australia Post Collectables |language=en}}</ref>

English navigator [[William Dampier]], aboard the privateer [[Charles Swan (pirate)|Charles Swan]]'s ship ''Cygnet'', made the earliest recorded visit to the sea around the island in March 1688.<ref name=EB1911/> In writing his account, he found the island uninhabited.<ref name=EB1911/><ref>{{cite book |last=Carney |first= Gerard |title=The constitutional systems of the Australian states and territories |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=2006 |isbn=0-521-86305-8 |page=477 |quote=The uninhabited island was named on Christmas Day, 1643, by Captain William Mynors as he sailed past, leaving to William Dampier the honour of first landing ashore in 1688.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=A New Voyage Round the World |last=Dampier |first=William |author-link=William Dampier |year=1703 |publisher=James Knapton |location=The Crown in St.&nbsp;Paul's Church-yard, London, England}}</ref> Dampier was trying to reach [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands|the Cocos Islands]] from [[New Holland (Australia)|New Holland]]. His ship was blown off course in an easterly direction, arriving at Christmas Island 28 days later. Dampier landed on the west coast, at "the [[The Dales (Christmas Island)|Dales]]". Two of his crewmen became the first Europeans to set foot on Christmas Island.<ref>{{cite web |title=Where is Christmas Island? |url=http://www.hamiltonstampclub.com/christmas-islands.html |website=Hamilton Stamp Club |access-date=18 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820120024/http://www.hamiltonstampclub.com/christmas-islands.html |archive-date=20 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Captain Daniel Beeckman of the ''Eagle'' passed the island on 5 April 1714, chronicled in his 1718 book, ''A Voyage to and from the Island of Borneo, in the East-Indies''.<ref name=":2">{{cite journal |last=Gibson-Hill |first=Carl Alexander |author-link=Carl Alexander Gibson-Hill |date=1949 |title=The Early History of Christmas Island, in the Indian Ocean |url= |journal=[[Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society]] |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=72–76 }}</ref>

===Exploration and annexation===
The first attempt at exploring the island was made in 1857 by Captain Sidney Grenfell of the frigate {{HMS|Amethyst|1844|6}}. An expedition crew were sent ashore with instructions to reach the summit of the plateau, but they failed to find a route up the inland cliff and were forced to turn back.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> During the [[Challenger expedition|1872–1876 ''Challenger'' expedition]] to Indonesia, naturalist [[John Murray (oceanographer)|John Murray]] carried out extensive surveys.<ref name="Tourism">{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www.christmas.net.au/about/history.html |publisher=Christmas Island Tourism Association |access-date=18 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208180546/http://www.christmas.net.au/about/history.html |archive-date=8 December 2014 }}</ref>

In 1886, Captain [[John Maclear]] of {{HMS|Flying Fish|1873|6}}, having discovered an anchorage in a bay that he named "Flying Fish Cove", landed a party and made a small collection of the flora and fauna.<ref name="EB1911" /> In the next year, [[Pelham Aldrich]], on board {{HMS|Egeria|1873|6}}, visited the island for 10 days, accompanied by [[Joseph Jackson Lister (naturalist)|J.&nbsp;J.&nbsp;Lister]], who gathered a larger biological and mineralogical collection.<ref name="EB1911" /> Among the rocks then obtained and submitted to Murray for examination were many of nearly pure [[Calcium pyrophosphate|phosphate of lime]]. This discovery led to annexation of the island by the British Crown on 6&nbsp;June 1888.<ref name="Tourism" />

===Settlement and exploitation===
[[File:Flying Fish Cove at Christmas Island.jpg|thumb|right|The Settlement, also called [[Flying Fish Cove]], Christmas Island's capital]]
Soon afterwards, a small settlement was established in Flying Fish Cove by [[Clunies-Ross Family#George Clunies-Ross|G. Clunies-Ross]], the owner of the [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]] some {{convert|900|km}} to the southwest, to collect timber and supplies for the growing industry on Cocos. In 1897 the island was visited by [[Charles William Andrews|Charles W. Andrews]], who did extensive research on the natural history of the island, on behalf of the [[British Museum]].<ref name="Andrews">{{cite journal |url=http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=5316016&jid=GEO&volumeId=7&issueId=07&aid=5316008 |volume=II |title=A Monograph of Christmas Island |series=Indian Ocean: Physical Features and Geology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805060407/http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=5316016&jid=GEO&volumeId=7&issueId=07&aid=5316008 |archive-date=5 August 2011 |first=Charles W. |last=Andrews |journal=Geological Magazine |quote=With descriptions of the fauna and flora by numerous contributors. [[octavo|8vo]]; xiii+337&nbsp;pp., 22&nbsp;plates, 1&nbsp;map, text illustrated. |publisher=British Museum |place=London, UK |year=1900|issue=7 |pages=330–331 |doi=10.1017/S0016756800174461 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Phosphate mining began in 1899 using indentured workers from Singapore, [[British Malaya]], and China. John Davis Murray, a mechanical engineer and recent graduate of [[Purdue University]], was sent to supervise the operation on behalf of the Phosphate Mining and Shipping Company. Murray was known as the "King of Christmas Island" until 1910, when he married and settled in London.<ref>{{cite book |title=A Handy Book of Curious Information |url=https://archive.org/details/ahandybookcurio00walsgoog |first=William |last=Walsh |year=1913 |page=447 |publisher=Lippincott |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Jupp |first1=James |title=The Australian People: An encyclopedia of the nation, its people, and their origins |year=2001 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, UK |isbn=9780521807890 |page=225 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wgoFxfSTfYAC&pg=PA225 |access-date=2 January 2017 |chapter=Christmas Islanders |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103165431/https://books.google.com.au/books?id=wgoFxfSTfYAC&pg=PA225|archive-date=3 January 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The island was administered jointly by the British Phosphate commissioners and district officers from the United Kingdom [[Colonial Office]] through the [[Straits Settlements]], and later the [[Colony of Singapore|Crown Colony of Singapore]]. Hunt (2011) provides a detailed history of Chinese indentured labour on the island during those years. In 1922, scientists unsuccessfully attempted to view [[Solar eclipse of September 21, 1922|a solar eclipse in late September]] from the island to test [[Albert Einstein]]'s [[theory of relativity]].<ref name=Hunt2012>{{cite news |first=John |last=Hunt |title=Eclipse on Christmas Island |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |date=5 September 2012}}</ref>

===Japanese invasion===
{{main|Battle of Christmas Island}}
From the outbreak of the [[South-East Asian theatre of World War II]] in December&nbsp;1941, Christmas Island was a target for Japanese occupation because of its rich phosphate deposits.<ref name=Klemen/> A naval gun was installed under a British officer, four [[non-commissioned officer]]s (NCOs) and 27&nbsp;Indian soldiers.<ref name="Klemen">{{Cite web |last=Klemen |first=L. |date=1999–2000 |title=The Mystery of Christmas Island, March&nbsp;1942 |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/christmas.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121080434/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/christmas.html |archive-date=21 January 2016 |access-date=16 July 2011 |website=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942}}</ref> The first attack was carried out on 20&nbsp;January 1942 by the {{Jsub|I-59}}, which torpedoed the Norwegian freighter ''Eidsvold''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=L. |first=Klemen |date=1999–2000 |title=Allied Merchant Ship Losses in the Pacific and Southeast Asia |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/allied_losses.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514072436/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/allied_losses.html |archive-date=14 May 2012 |access-date=16 July 2011 |website=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942}}</ref> The vessel drifted and eventually sank off West White Beach. Most of the European and Asian staff and their families were evacuated to [[Perth]].

In late February and early March&nbsp;1942, there were two aerial bombing raids. Shelling from a Japanese naval group on 7&nbsp;March led the [[district officer]] to hoist the [[white flag]].<ref name=Klemen/> But after the Japanese naval group sailed away, the British officer raised the [[Union Jack|Union Flag]] once more.<ref name=Klemen/> During the night of 10–11&nbsp;March, mutinous Indian troops, abetted by [[Sikhs|Sikh]] policemen, killed an officer and the four British NCOs in their quarters as they were sleeping. "Afterwards all Europeans on the island, including the district officer, who governed it, were lined up by the Indians and told they were going to be shot. But after a long discussion between the district officer and the leaders of the mutineers the executions were postponed and the Europeans were confined under armed guard in the district officer's house".<ref name=Klemen/>

At dawn on 31&nbsp;March 1942, a dozen Japanese bomber aircraft launched an attack, destroying the radio station. The same day, a Japanese fleet of nine vessels arrived, and the island was surrounded. About 850&nbsp;men of the Japanese 21st and 24th&nbsp;[[Imperial Japanese Navy land forces|Special Base Forces]] and 102nd&nbsp;Construction Unit came ashore at Flying Fish Cove and occupied the island.<ref name=Klemen/> They rounded up the workforce, most of whom had fled to the jungle. Sabotaged equipment was repaired, and preparations were made to resume the mining and export of phosphate. Only 20 men from the 21st&nbsp;Special Base Force were left as a garrison.<ref name=Klemen/>

Isolated acts of sabotage and the torpedoing of the cargo ship {{ship||Nissei Maru}} at the wharf on 17 November 1942<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cressman |first=Robert J. |title=Chapter IV: 1942 |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1942.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820205155/http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1942.html |archive-date=20 August 2011 |access-date=16 July 2011 |website=Hyperwar |series=The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War&nbsp;II}}</ref> meant that only small amounts of phosphate were exported to Japan during the occupation. In November&nbsp;1943, over 60% of the island's population were evacuated to [[Surabaya]] prison camps, leaving a population of just under 500&nbsp;Chinese and Malays and 15&nbsp;Japanese to survive as best they could. In October&nbsp;1945, {{HMS|Rother|K224|6}} re-occupied Christmas Island.<ref>Public Record Office, England War Office and Colonial Office Correspondence/Straits Settlements.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=J. Pettigrew |year=1962 |title=Christmas Island in World War II |journal=Australian Territories |volume=2 |issue=1}}</ref><ref>Interviews conducted by J. G. Hunt with Island residents, 1973–1977.</ref><ref>Correspondence J. G. Hunt with former Island residents, 1973–1979.</ref>

After the war, seven mutineers were traced and prosecuted by the Military Court in Singapore. In 1947, five of them were [[capital punishment|sentenced to death]]. However, following representations made by the newly independent government of India, their sentences were reduced to [[Penal labour|penal servitude]] for [[life imprisonment|life]].<ref name=Klemen/>

===Transfer to Australia===
The United Kingdom transferred sovereignty of Christmas Island to Australia at the latter's request, with a $20&nbsp;million payment from the Australian government to [[Colony of Singapore|Singapore]] as compensation for the loss of earnings from the phosphate revenue.<ref>{{cite AV media |department=Department of External Affairs in Australia |date=16 May 1957 |title=Report from the Australian High Commission in Singapore to the Department of External Affairs in Australia |place=Singapore |publisher=National Archives of Singapore |medium=microfilm |id=NAB 447}}</ref> The United Kingdom's Christmas Island Act was given royal assent on 14&nbsp;May 1958 by Queen Elizabeth II, enabling Britain to transfer authority over Christmas Island from Singapore to Australia by an order-in-council.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19580516.2.20.2.aspx |title=All set for transfer. |date=16 May 1958 |newspaper=The Straits Times |page=2 |access-date=8 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906024518/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19580516.2.20.2.aspx |archive-date=6 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Australia's Christmas Island Act was passed in September&nbsp;1958, and the island was officially placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia on 1&nbsp;October 1958.<ref>{{cite report |url=http://eservice.nlb.gov.sg/item_holding_s.aspx?bid=13849897 |author=Kerr, A. |year=2009 |title=A federation in these seas: An account of the acquisition by Australia of its external territories, with selected documents |publisher=Attorney General's Dept. (A.C.T. Barton) |page=329 |id=call no.: R 325.394 KER |access-date=8 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903213829/http://eservice.nlb.gov.sg/item_holding_s.aspx?bid=13849897 |archive-date=3 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> This transfer did not see any process involving the local population, who could remain Singaporean citizens or obtain Australian citizenship. Links between Singapore and Christmas Island have occasionally reemerged in Singaporean politics and in [[Australia–Singapore relations]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/diego-garcia-unnerving-neighbours-raising-ghosts |title=Diego Garcia: Unnerving neighbours and raising ghosts |author=Ashton Robinson |work=The Interpreter |date=18 December 2019 |access-date=4 October 2024}}</ref><ref name="Chan2022">{{cite journal |author1=Ying-kit Chan |title=Who, or What, is Lost: Singapore's Impressions of Christmas Island, c. 1960–1990 |journal=MANUSYA: Journal of Humanities |volume=25 |pages=1–16 |year=2022 |url=http://www.manusya.journals.chula.ac.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MNYA_025_01_innerwork-22-37.pdf |doi=10.1163/26659077-24030009}}</ref>

Under Commonwealth Cabinet Decision 1573 of 9&nbsp;September 1958, D.E. Nickels was appointed the first official representative of the new territory.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1200578 |title=Mr.&nbsp;D.E. Nickels and Mrs.&nbsp;Nickels interviewed by Jan Adams in the Christmas Island life story oral history project|journal=Christmas Island Life Story Oral History Project |year=1986 |publisher=National Library of Australia |access-date=13 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317123411/http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1200578 |archive-date=17 March 2014 |url-status=live|last1=Nickels |first1=D. E. |last2=Neale |first2=Margo |last3=Adams |first3=Jan }}</ref> In a media statement on 5&nbsp;August 1960, the [[Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories|minister for territories]], [[Paul Hasluck]], said, among other things, that, "His extensive knowledge of the Malay language and the customs of the Asian people ... has proved invaluable in the inauguration of Australian administration ... During his two years on the island he had faced unavoidable difficulties ... and constantly sought to advance the island's interests."

[[John William Stokes]] succeeded Nickels and served from 1 October 1960 to 12 June 1966. On his departure, he was lauded by all sectors of the island community. In 1968, the official secretary was retitled an administrator and, since 1997, Christmas Island and the [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]] together are called the [[Australian Indian Ocean Territories]] and share a single administrator resident on Christmas Island.

The village of [[Silver City, Christmas Island|Silver City]] was built in the 1970s, with aluminium-clad houses that were supposed to be [[cyclone]]-proof.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/nature/island/ep2/about4.htm |title=Island Life – Christmas Island – About |website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=26 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020208135014/http://www.abc.net.au/nature/island/ep2/about4.htm |archive-date=8 February 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami]], centred off the western shore of [[Sumatra]] in Indonesia, resulted in no reported casualties, but some swimmers were swept some {{convert|150|m|ft}} out to sea for a time before being swept back in.<ref>Main article: [[Countries affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]]</ref>

===Refugee and immigration detention===
{{see also|Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre}}
[[File:Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre and the Lilac compound (5775019842).jpg|thumb|left|Immigration Detention Centre]]From the late 1980s and early 1990s, boats carrying [[Asylum seeker|asylum seekers]], mainly departing from Indonesia, began landing on the island. In 2001, Christmas Island was the site of the [[Tampa affair|''Tampa'' controversy]], in which the Australian government stopped a Norwegian ship, [[MV Tampa|MV ''Tampa'']], from disembarking 438&nbsp;rescued asylum-seekers. The ensuing standoff and the associated political reactions in Australia were a major issue in the [[2001 Australian federal election]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Fowler |first=Connie |url=http://diemperdidi.info/nordicnotes/vol07/articles/thetampacrisis.html |title=Karsten Klepsuik, John Howard, and the Tampa Crisis: Good Luck or Good Management? |publisher=Celsius Centre for Scandinavian Studies ([[Flinders University]]) |work=Nordic Notes |issn=1442-5165 |volume=7 |year=2003 |access-date=19 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425120631/http://diemperdidi.info/nordicnotes/vol07/articles/thetampacrisis.html |archive-date=25 April 2012 }}</ref>

The [[Howard government]] operated the "[[Pacific Solution]]" from 2001 to 2007, excising Christmas Island from [[Australian migration zone|Australia's migration zone]] so that asylum seekers on the island could not apply for [[Refugee|refugee status]]. Asylum seekers were relocated from Christmas Island to [[Manus Island]] and [[Nauru]]. In 2006, an [[North West Point Immigration Detention Centre|immigration detention centre]], containing approximately 800 beds, was constructed on the island for the [[Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2006–07)|Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs]]. Originally estimated to cost {{AUD|276}}&nbsp;million,<ref>{{cite report |author1=((Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia)) |title=Update Report: The Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre Project |date=September 2008 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |location=Canberra |isbn=978-0-642-79078-1 |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Completed_Inquiries/pwc/christmasisland08/report |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225122442/http://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/house/committee/pwc/christmasisland08/report/fullreport.pdf |archive-date=25 February 2014}}</ref> the final cost was over $400&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Detention on Christmas Island |url=https://www.amnesty.org.au/refugees/comments/20442/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817061144/http://www.amnesty.org.au/refugees/comments/20442/ |archive-date=17 August 2010 |publisher=Amnesty International |date=10 March 2009 |access-date=26 April 2009}}</ref> In 2007, the [[Rudd government (2007–2010)|Rudd government]] decommissioned [[Manus Regional Processing Centre]] and [[Nauru Regional Processing Centre|Nauru detention centre]]; processing would then occur on Christmas Island itself.<ref name="Close Nauru Manus">{{cite web |title=Savings for Labor's Better Priorities: Close Nauru and Manus Island detention centres |work=Public release of costing |url=http://archive.electioncostings.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0007/64519/ALP032_Public_Release_of_Costing_-_Savings_for_Labors_Better_Priorities_-_Close_Nauru_and_Manus_Island_detention_centres.rtf |publisher=electioncostings.gov.au |date=15 November 2007 |format=[[Rich Text Format|RTF]] download |access-date=19 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512212932/http://archive.electioncostings.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0007/64519/ALP032_Public_Release_of_Costing_-_Savings_for_Labors_Better_Priorities_-_Close_Nauru_and_Manus_Island_detention_centres.rtf |archive-date=12 May 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/world/asia/05island.html |title=Australia puts its refugee problem on a remote island, behind razor wire |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=5 November 2009 |access-date=24 February 2017 |archive-date=16 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316040048/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/world/asia/05island.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December&nbsp;2010, 48&nbsp;asylum-seekers died just off the coast of the island in what became known as the [[2010 Christmas Island boat disaster|Christmas Island boat disaster]] when their boat hit the rocks near Flying Fish Cove, and then smashed against nearby cliffs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Doomed asylum seekers' boat not being tracked by Customs: minister |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/they-were-screaming-help-help-help-20101215-18ya5.html |date=16 December 2010 |access-date=16 December 2010 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |first1=Kirsty |last1=Needham |first2=Andrew |last2=Stevenson |first3=Tom |last3=Allard}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Leaders pay tribute to asylum shipwreck victims |publisher=ABC |agency=ABC/AAP |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/09/3134412.htm?section=justin |date=9 February 2011 |access-date=22 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628232051/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/09/3134412.htm?section=justin| archive-date=28 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In the case [[Plaintiff M61/2010E v Commonwealth|''Plaintiff M61/2010E v Commonwealth of Australia'']], the [[High Court of Australia]] ruled, in a 7–0 joint judgment, that asylum seekers detained on Christmas Island were entitled to the protections of the [[Migration Act 1958|Migration Act.]] Accordingly, the Commonwealth was obliged to afford asylum seekers a minimum of procedural fairness when assessing their claims.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apo.org.au/resource/offshore-processing-has-bar-been-lifted |title=Offshore processing: Has the bar been lifted? |last=Hume |first=David |date=25 November 2010 |access-date=17 August 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701092328/http://apo.org.au/resource/offshore-processing-has-bar-been-lifted |archive-date=1 July 2016 }}</ref> {{as of|2013|June|20}}, after the interception of four boats in six days, carrying 350&nbsp;people, the Immigration Department stated that there were 2,960&nbsp;"irregular maritime arrivals" being held in the island's five detention facilities, which exceeded not only the "regular operating capacity" of 1,094&nbsp;people, but also the "contingency capacity" of 2,724.<ref name="beyond capacity">{{cite news |last=Rintoul |first=Stuart |title=Pre-election surge pushes island centres far beyond capacity |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/pre-election-surge-pushes-island-centres-far-beyond-capacity/story-fn9hm1gu-1226666528991 |access-date=20 June 2013 |newspaper=The Australian |date=19 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620075259/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/pre-election-surge-pushes-island-centres-far-beyond-capacity/story-fn9hm1gu-1226666528991 |archive-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre closed in September 2018.<ref name="Christmas Island detention centre closure">{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/after-10-years-the-notorious-christmas-island-detention-centre-has-quietly-closed-20181004-p507r0.html |title=After 10&nbsp;years, the notorious Christmas Island detention centre has quietly closed |date=4 October 2018 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=5 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206001543/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/after-10-years-the-notorious-christmas-island-detention-centre-has-quietly-closed-20181004-p507r0.html |archive-date=6 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Morrison government announced it would re-open the centre in February the following year, after Australia's parliament passed legislation giving sick asylum seekers easier access to mainland hospitals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Christmas Island: Australia to reopen controversial migrant detention camp |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/christmas-island-detention-camp-reopened-australia-asylum-seekers-hospital-scott-morrison-a8776566.html |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=13 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213050014/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/christmas-island-detention-camp-reopened-australia-asylum-seekers-hospital-scott-morrison-a8776566.html |archive-date=13 February 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the early days of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the government opened parts of the Immigration Reception and Processing Centre to be used as a quarantine facility to accommodate Australian citizens who had been in [[Wuhan]], the point of origin of the pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |url =https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-18/coronavirus-quarantine-binney-family-home-sunshine-coast/11975244 |title =Queensland family arrive home after coronavirus quarantine on Christmas Island |first1 =Tara |first2 =Sally |last1 =Cassidy |last2 =Rafferty |website =ABC News |date =18 February 2020 |publisher =Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date =28 February 2020 |archive-date =28 February 2020 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200228133111/https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-18/coronavirus-quarantine-binney-family-home-sunshine-coast/11975244 |url-status =live }}</ref> The evacuees arrived on 3 February.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Handley |first1=Erin |title=From Wuhan to Australia: A timeline of key events in the spread of the deadly coronavirus |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-29/coronavirus-timeline-from-wuhan-china-to-global-crisis/11903298 |website=ABC Australia News |date=29 January 2020 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=30 March 2020 |archive-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329051830/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-29/coronavirus-timeline-from-wuhan-china-to-global-crisis/11903298 |url-status=live }}</ref> They left 14 days later to their homes on the mainland.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-17/australian-evacuees-from-wuhan-to-christmas-island-arrive-home/11971174|title=Emotional, exhausted coronavirus evacuees finally make it home after two weeks quarantined on 'notorious' island|date=17 February 2020|newspaper=ABC News|access-date=3 June 2020|archive-date=28 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628090611/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-17/australian-evacuees-from-wuhan-to-christmas-island-arrive-home/11971174|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Map of Christmas Island 1976.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75|Christmas Island map (1976)]]

The island is about {{convert|19|km|mi}} in greatest length and {{convert|14.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} in breadth. The total land area is {{convert|135|km2|sqmi}}, with {{convert|138.9|km|mi|abbr=on}} of coastline. Steep cliffs along much of the coast rise abruptly to a central plateau. Elevation ranges from sea level to {{convert|361|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} at [[Murray Hill, Christmas Island|Murray Hill]]. The island is mainly [[tropical rainforest]], 63% of which is national parkland. The narrow fringing [[reef]] surrounding the island poses a maritime hazard.

Christmas Island lies {{convert|2600|km|mi}} northwest of [[Perth]], Western Australia, {{convert|350|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Indonesia, {{convert|975|km|mi|abbr=on}} east-northeast of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and {{convert|2748|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]], Northern Territory. Its closest point to the Australian mainland is {{convert|1550|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the town of [[Exmouth, Western Australia|Exmouth]], Western Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information/dimensions/remote-offshore-territories |title=Remote Offshore Territories |date=15 May 2014 |publisher=Geoscience Australia |access-date=20 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120070626/http://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information/dimensions/remote-offshore-territories |archive-date=20 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Only small parts of the shoreline are easily accessible. The island's perimeter is dominated by sharp cliff faces, making many of the island's beaches difficult to get to. Some of the easily accessible beaches include Flying Fish Cove (main beach), Lily Beach, Ethel Beach, and Isabel Beach, while the more difficult beaches to access include Greta Beach, Dolly Beach, Winifred Beach, Merrial Beach, and West White Beach, which all require a vehicle with four wheel drive and a difficult walk through dense rainforest.<ref>{{cite web |title=Christmas Island Beaches |url=https://www.christmas.net.au/experiences/beaches.html |website=Christmas Island – A Natural Wonder |publisher=Christmas Island Tourism Association |access-date=2 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113054713/https://www.christmas.net.au/experiences/beaches.html |archive-date=13 January 2017 }}</ref>

Christmas Island is geographically notable within Australia for having a terrestrial antipodal point. Unlike the Australian mainland and other states and territories, whose antipodes lie entirely in the ocean, the antipodal coordinates of Christmas Island (approximately 10.49° N, 74.36° W) fall on land in northern Colombia near the Caribbean coast. This results in an overlap of roughly 136 km² in the  Magdalena Department of Colombia, making Christmas Island the only Australian state or territory with a non-marine antipode.<ref>{{cite web |title=Antipode of Australia |url=https://www.antipode-finder.com/antipode-of-australia/ |website=Antipode Finder |access-date=26 December 2025}}</ref>

===Geology===
[[File:Christmas Island (5775094028).jpg|thumb|left|[[Flying Fish Cove]] in golden twilight]]
The [[volcanic island]] is the flat summit of an underwater mountain more than {{convert|4500|m|ft}} high,<ref>{{cite web |date=16 August 2007 |title=Submission on Development Potential |url=http://www.nalwt.gov.au/files/no-37-thomas.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520042734/http://www.nalwt.gov.au/files/no-37-thomas.pdf |archive-date=20 May 2009 |access-date=26 April 2009 |publisher=Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce |id=No.&nbsp;37}}</ref> which rises from about {{convert|4200|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} below the sea and only about {{convert|300|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above it.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 April 2009 |title=Christmas island |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/christmas-island/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126032949/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/christmas-island/ |archive-date=26 January 2021 |access-date=26 April 2009 |work=World Factbook |publisher=CIA}}</ref> The mountain was originally a [[volcano]], and some [[basalt]] is exposed in places such as [[The Dales (Christmas Island)|The Dales]] and Dolly Beach, but most of the surface rock is [[limestone]] accumulated from [[coral]] growth. The [[karst]] terrain supports numerous [[Anchialine system|anchialine caves]].<ref name="IliffeADM2016">{{cite journal |author1=Iliffe, T. |author2=Humphreys, W. |year=2016 |title=Christmas Islands Hidden Secret |url=http://www.advanceddivermagazine.com/articles/christmasisland.html |url-status=live |journal=Advanced Diver Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110101547/http://www.advanceddivermagazine.com/articles/christmasisland.html |archive-date=10 January 2016 |access-date=2 January 2016}}</ref> The summit of this mountain peak is formed by a succession of [[Tertiary period|Tertiary]] limestones ranging in age from the [[Eocene]] or [[Oligocene]] up to recent reef deposits, with intercalations of volcanic rock in the older beds.<ref name="Andrews" />

=== Marine Park ===
Reefs near the islands have healthy [[coral]] and are home to several rare species of marine life. The region, along with the Cocos (Keeling) Islands reefs, have been described as "Australia's [[Galápagos Islands|Galapagos Islands]]".<ref name="Birch 2022">{{cite web |last=Birch |first=Laura |date=20 March 2022 |title=Indian Ocean marine parks off Christmas Island and Cocos Islands get the go-ahead |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-20/two-marine-parks-to-be-set-up-christmas-cocos-islands/100924776 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326182102/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-20/two-marine-parks-to-be-set-up-christmas-cocos-islands/100924776 |archive-date=26 March 2022 |access-date=28 March 2022 |website=ABC News |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref>

In the 2021 budget the Australian Government committed A$39.1 million to create two new marine parks off Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The parks will cover up to {{convert|740,000|km2}} of Australian waters.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 May 2021 |title=Budget 2021–22 |url=https://budget.gov.au/2021-22/content/bp2/download/bp2_2021-22.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210511093603/https://budget.gov.au/2021-22/content/bp2/download/bp2_2021-22.pdf |archive-date=11 May 2021 |access-date=20 September 2021 |publisher=Government of Australia}}</ref> After months of consultation with local people, both parks were approved in March 2022, with a total coverage of {{convert|744,000|km2}}. The park will help to protect spawning of [[bluefin tuna]] from illegal international fishers, but local people will be allowed to practise fishing sustainably inshore in order to source food.<ref name="Birch 2022" />

=== Climate ===
Christmas Island lies near the southern edge of the equatorial region. It has a [[tropical monsoon climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Am'') and temperatures vary little throughout the year. The highest temperature is usually around {{convert|29|C|F}} in March and April, while the lowest temperature is {{convert|23|C|F}} and occurs in August. There is a dry season from July to October with only occasional showers. The wet season is between November and June and includes [[Monsoon|monsoons]], with downpours of rain at random times of the day. [[Tropical cyclone|Tropical cyclones]] also occur in the wet season, bringing very strong winds, heavy rain, wave action, and [[storm surge]].

{{Weather box|location = [[Christmas Island Airport]] (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1972–present)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|temperature colour =
|Jan record high C = 31.4
|Feb record high C = 31.5
|Mar record high C = 31.5
|Apr record high C = 31.4
|May record high C = 30.7
|Jun record high C = 29.8
|Jul record high C = 29.3
|Aug record high C = 29.5
|Sep record high C = 30.9
|Oct record high C = 31.4
|Nov record high C = 31.8
|Dec record high C = 31.5
|year record high C =31.8
|Jan high C = 28.1
|Feb high C = 28.1
|Mar high C = 28.3
|Apr high C = 28.3
|May high C = 27.9
|Jun high C = 27.1
|Jul high C = 26.2
|Aug high C = 26.1
|Sep high C = 26.2
|Oct high C = 26.9
|Nov high C = 27.4
|Dec high C = 27.8
|year high C =
|Jan mean C = 25.5
|Feb mean C = 25.6
|Mar mean C = 25.8
|Apr mean C = 26.0
|May mean C = 26.0
|Jun mean C = 25.3
|Jul mean C = 24.5
|Aug mean C = 24.2
|Sep mean C = 24.3
|Oct mean C = 24.9
|Nov mean C = 25.3
|Dec mean C = 25.3
|year mean C =
|Jan low C = 22.9
|Feb low C = 23.0
|Mar low C = 23.3
|Apr low C = 23.7
|May low C = 24.0
|Jun low C = 23.5
|Jul low C = 22.7
|Aug low C = 22.3
|Sep low C = 22.3
|Oct low C = 22.8
|Nov low C = 23.1
|Dec low C = 22.8
|year low C = 23.0
|Jan record low C = 18.8
|Feb record low C = 18.4
|Mar record low C = 18.6
|Apr record low C = 18.3
|May record low C = 19.3
|Jun record low C = 18.3
|Jul record low C = 16.2
|Aug record low C = 17.7
|Sep record low C = 16.7
|Oct record low C = 18.2
|Nov record low C = 18.0
|Dec record low C = 17.1
|year record low C =
|rain colour=green
|Jan rain mm = 280.6
|Feb rain mm = 353.7
|Mar rain mm = 321.5
|Apr rain mm = 244.2
|May rain mm = 180.1
|Jun rain mm = 171.7
|Jul rain mm = 97.2
|Aug rain mm = 38.5
|Sep rain mm = 45.4
|Oct rain mm = 61.9
|Nov rain mm = 150.0
|Dec rain mm = 216.5
|year rain mm = 2147.8
|unit rain days = 1 mm
|Jan rain days = 15.1
|Feb rain days = 16.9
|Mar rain days = 17.8
|Apr rain days = 15.0
|May rain days = 10.7
|Jun rain days = 10.2
|Jul rain days = 8.1
|Aug rain days = 6.1
|Sep rain days = 4.2
|Oct rain days = 4.2
|Nov rain days = 7.4
|Dec rain days = 11.8
|Jan afthumidity = 79
|Feb afthumidity = 83
|Mar afthumidity = 82
|Apr afthumidity = 83
|May afthumidity = 81
|Jun afthumidity = 81
|Jul afthumidity = 81
|Aug afthumidity = 79
|Sep afthumidity = 80
|Oct afthumidity = 79
|Nov afthumidity = 79
|Dec afthumidity = 78
|source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=200790&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal
| title = Monthly climate statistics
| publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]
| accessdate = January 5, 2023
}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Christmas Island Population Pyramid-2011.png|thumb|upright=1.95|Christmas Island's population pyramid, from a census in 2011, showing a large proportion of males over females.]]

{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Ancestry of Christmas Island (2021)<ref name="Census2021" />
|label1 = [[Chinese people|Chinese ancestry]]
|value1 = 22.2
|color1 = blue
|label2 = [[Australians|Australian ancestry]]
|value2 = 17
|color2 = Red
|label3 = [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay ancestry]]
|value3 = 16.1
|color3 = Green
|label4 = [[English people|English ancestry]]
|value4 = 12.5
|color4 = DodgerBlue
|label5 = Other
|value5 = 43
|color5 = Black
}}

As of the [[2021 Australian census]], the population of Christmas Island was 1,692.<ref name=Census2021>{{cite web |publisher=Australian Government |department=[[Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development]] |title=2021 Census: Christmas Island |url=https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/LGA51710 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116101421/https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/LGA51710 |archive-date=16 November 2022|access-date=27 November 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> 22.2% of the population had Chinese ancestry (up from 18.3% in 2001), 17.0% had generic Australian ancestry (11.7% in 2001), 16.1% had Malay ancestry (9.3% in 2001), 12.5% had English ancestry (8.9% in 2001), and 3.8% of the population was of Indonesian origin. Most were born on Christmas Island.<ref name=Census2021/> 40.8% of people were born in Australia. The next most common country of birth was Malaysia at 18.6%. 29.3% of the population spoke English as their family language, while 18.4% spoke Malay, 13.9% spoke Mandarin Chinese, 3.7% Cantonese, and 2.1% [[Southern Min]] (Minnan).<ref name=Census2021/> Additionally, there are small local populations of [[Malaysian Indians]] and Indonesians.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cidhs.cx/island-induction|publisher= Christmas Island District High School|title=Island induction |access-date=28 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803091021/http://www.cidhs.cx/island-induction |archive-date=3 August 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Christmas Island: An Anthropological Study |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gsGegGC3GmYC&pg=PA91 |via=Google Books |year=2008 |last=Dennis |first=Simone |publisher=Cambria Press |isbn=9781604975109 |pages=91ff |access-date=6 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231220306/https://books.google.com/books?id=gsGegGC3GmYC&pg=PA91 |archive-date=31 December 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[2016 Australian census]] recorded that the population of Christmas Island was 40.5% female and 59.5% male, while in 2011 the figures had been 29.3% female and 70.7% male.<ref name=Census2021/> In contrast, the 2021 figures for the whole of Australia were 50.7% female, 49.3% male.<ref>{{cite web|title=2021 Census QuickStats: Australia|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/AUS|website=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|access-date=27 November 2022|language=en|archive-date=25 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025011720/https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/AUS|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 1998 there has been no provision for childbirth on the island; expectant mothers travel to mainland Australia approximately one month before their expected due date to give birth.<ref name="joyner">{{cite news |last1=Joyner |first1=Tom |title=Why there have been no childbirths on Christmas Island in 21 years |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-22/its-20-years-since-the-last-baby-was-born-on-christmas-island/10666124 |access-date=7 April 2020 |work=ABC News |date=22 January 2019 |language=en-AU |archive-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610104101/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-22/its-20-years-since-the-last-baby-was-born-on-christmas-island/10666124 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Ethnicity===
Historically, the majority of Christmas Islanders were those of Chinese, Malay, and Indian origins, the initial permanent settlers.<ref name="SCMP" /> Today, the plurality of residents are [[Malaysian Chinese|Chinese]], with significant numbers of European Australians and [[Malaysian Malays|Malays]] as well as a smaller [[Malaysian Indians|Indian]] community, alongside more recent Filipino arrivals. Since the turn of the 21st century and right up to the present, Europeans have mainly confined themselves to The Settlement, where there is a small supermarket and several restaurants; the Malays live in their coastal [[Malay Kampong Group|kampong]]; and the Chinese reside in [[Poon Saan]] ([[Cantonese]] for "in the middle of the hill").<ref name="ethnic"/>

===Language===
The main languages spoken at home on Christmas Island, according to respondents, are English (28%), Mandarin (17%), and Malay (17%), with smaller numbers of speakers of Cantonese (4%) and [[Hokkien]] (2%). 27% did not specify a language.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/christmas-island/#people-and-society |title=Christmas Island |work=CIA Factbook |date=2016}}</ref>

While English is the [[lingua franca]] on the island, many people do not speak it. In the [[2016 Australian census|2016 census]], while only 14% of residents reported speaking English "not well or at all", only 59% of residents reported either speaking only English or speaking English "well or very well", with 27% not answering the question.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/territories/publications/files/IOTHS_Five_Year_Strategy_Public_Version_Final_19.03.26.pdf |title=Final Report Indian Ocean Territories Health Services |publisher=Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities |date=26 March 2019 |access-date=10 August 2025 |pages=25, 28}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Religion in Christmas Island (2021)<ref>{{citation|title=2021 Census of Population and Housing – General Community Profile: Christmas Island (LGA51710)|date=2022 |author= ((Australian Bureau of Statistics))|url=https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/community-profiles/2021/LGA51710|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|id=("General Community Profile" XLS file download: Table G14 – Religious Affiliation by Sex)}} [https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/community-profiles/2021/90101/download/GCP_90101.xlsx Direct file download (1 MB).]</ref> Note that some [[statistical noise]] is added to the publicly released census data, in order to protect residents' privacy.
| label1 = [[Islam]]
| value1 = 22.1
| color1 = green
| label2 = [[Buddhism]]
| value2 = 15.2
| color2 = Yellow
| label3 = [[Catholicism]]
| value3 = 7.3
| color3 = DodgerBlue
| label4 = [[Protestantism]]
| value4 = 4.9
| color4 = Lightblue
| label5 = Other Christian
| value5 = 1.8
| color5 = Darkblue
| label6 = Other religion
| value6 = 1.0
| color6 = Red
| color7 = black
| value7 = 19.7
| label7 = Secular Beliefs and Other Spiritual Beliefs and No Religious Affiliation
| color8 = grey
| value8 = 26.7
| label8 = Religious affiliation not stated
}}

Religious practices differ by geography across the island and effectively correspond to the island's three primary settlements: the capital (known simply as The Settlement), the Cantonese village [[Poon Saan]], and the Malay water village ([[Malay Kampong Group|which is often referred to as the Kampong]]).

Major religious affiliation in Christmas Island (2021):<ref>{{Cite web |title=SBS Australian Census Explorer |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/census-explorer-2021/index.html?placeType=sal&places=christmas-island&topic=cultural-diversity&lang=en |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.sbs.com.au}}</ref>

* 374 people or 22.1% are [[Muslims|Muslim]], up from 19.3% in 2016
* 333 people or 19.7% are [[Irreligion]], up from 15.3% in 2016
* 258 people or 15.2% are [[Buddhism|Buddhists]], down from 18.2% in 2016
* 123 people or 7.3% are [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], down from 8.8% in 2016
* 35 people or 2.1% are [[Anglicanism|Anglican]], down from 3.6% in 2016

====The Settlement====
Due to the large numbers of English and Australians who make up the bulk of the island's capital, there is a strong Anglo-Celtic influence in The Settlement which has contributed to the strong presence of Catholicism. This has been further reinforced by recent Filipino arrivals.<ref name="ethnic"/>

====Poon Saan====
[[File:Christmas Island (5774564505).jpg|thumb|upright|A Taoist temple]]
In the village of [[Poon Saan]], which functions like the island's Chinatown, Buddhism is commonplace. Traditional Cantonese folk practices also are represented in this area.<ref name="ethnic"/> Chinese temples and shrines include seven Buddhist temples (like Guan Yin Monastery (观音寺) at Gaze Road), ten Taoist temples (like Soon Tian Kong (顺天宫) in South Point and Grants Well Guan Di Temple) and shrines dedicated to [[Na Tuk Kong]] or [[Datuk Keramat]] on the island.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 September 2016 |title=Christmas Island Heritage – Temples and Shrines |url=https://christmasislandheritage.com/temples-and-shrines/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606161826/https://christmasislandheritage.com/temples-and-shrines/ |archive-date=6 June 2020 |access-date=7 June 2020}}</ref>

====Kampong====
Malays who have settled on the island's edge in their shoreline [[kampong]] tend to follow Sunni Islam.<ref name="ethnic"/> The kampong has a mosque but it is in a state of decay and disrepair with rotting timbers and cracks.<ref name=ahd-105402>{{cite AHD|105402|Malay Kampong Group|fn=9/03/001/0008|accessdate=8 June 2024}}</ref>

====Other groups====
Other smaller and less geographically concentrated groups include [[Anglicanism|Anglicans]] who make up 3.6%, [[Uniting Church in Australia|Uniting Church]] adherents who make up 1.2%, other [[Protestantism|Protestants]] who make up 1.7%, and other Christian groups with 3.3%. Other religious communities collectively constitute 0.6% of the island's population.

==Holidays and festivals==
As an external territory of [[Australia]], the two religious festivals which are official holidays are [[Christmas]] and [[Easter]]. Other non-official festivals include [[Chinese New Year|Spring Festival]], [[Lantern Festival]], [[Qingming Festival]], [[Ghost Festival|Zhong Yuan Festival]], [[Eid al-Fitr|Hari Raya Puasa]], and [[Eid al-Adha|Hari Raya Haji]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Athyal |first1=Jesudas M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-RfYBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA41 |title=Religion in Southeast Asia: An Encyclopedia of Faiths and Cultures: An Encyclopedia of Faiths and Cultures |date=2015 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=9781610692502 |location=Santa Barbara, California |page=41 |access-date=11 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009185815/https://books.google.com/books?id=-RfYBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA41 |archive-date=9 October 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Government==
Christmas Island is a non-self-governing [[States and territories of Australia#External territory|external territory]] of Australia {{as of|lc=yes|February 2020}}, part of the [[Australian Indian Ocean Territories]] administered by the [[Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=|title=Territories of Australia|url=https://regional.gov.au/territories/index.aspx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111022256/https://www.regional.gov.au/territories/index.aspx|archive-date=11 January 2021|access-date=29 January 2021|website=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications|language=en-AU}}</ref> (from 29&nbsp;November 2007 until 14&nbsp;September 2010, administration was carried out by the [[Attorney-General's Department (Australia)|Attorney-General's Department]],<ref name="AussieAG">{{cite web |department=First Assistant Secretary, Territories Division |place=Australia |title=Territories of Australia |url=http://www.ag.gov.au/territories |publisher=Attorney-General's Department |date=2 June 2008 |quote=The Federal Government, through the Attorney-General's Department administers Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Coral Sea Islands, Jervis Bay, and Norfolk Island as Territories. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131100911/http://ag.gov.au/territories |archive-date=31 January 2009}}</ref><ref name="AG">{{cite web |department=First Assistant Secretary, Access to Justice Division |title=Territories of Australia – Administrative Arrangements Order: 14 September 2010|url=http://www.ag.gov.au/territories |publisher=Attorney-General's Department |date=2 February 2011 |access-date=28 August 2011 |quote=Under the Administrative Arrangements Order made on 14&nbsp;September 2010, responsibility for services to Territories was transferred to the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814065328/http://www.ag.gov.au/territories |archive-date=14 August 2011}}</ref> and prior to this by the [[Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities|Department of Transport and Regional Services]]).<ref name="DOTARS">{{cite web |department=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government |title=Territories of Australia: Machinery of Government Changes 2007 |url=http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories/index.aspx |access-date=7 February 2008 |quote=As part of the Machinery of Government Changes following the Federal Election on 29&nbsp;November 2007, administrative responsibility for Territories has been transferred to the Attorney General's Department. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216154140/http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories/index.aspx |archive-date=16 December 2007}}</ref>

The legal system is under the authority of the [[Governor-General of Australia]] and Australian law. An [[Administrator (Australia)|administrator]] appointed by the governor-general represents the [[Monarchy of Australia|monarch]] and Australia and lives on the island. The territory falls under no formal state jurisdiction, but the [[Western Australia]]n government provides many services as established by the Christmas Island Act.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Christmas Island, Legal framework and administration|url=https://www.regional.gov.au/territories/Christmas/governanceadministration.aspx|date=4 December 2019|website=Australian Government – Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communication|access-date=21 May 2020|archive-date=3 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603044334/https://www.regional.gov.au/territories/christmas/governanceadministration.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Australian government provides services through the Christmas Island Administration and the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. Under the federal government's [[Christmas Island Act 1958]], Western Australian laws are applied to Christmas Island; non-application or partial application of such laws is at the discretion of the federal government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Christmas Island Act 1958 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1958A00041 |website=www.legislation.gov.au |access-date=29 April 2019 |department=Federal Register of Legislation |publisher=Australian Government |place=Australia |year=2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110074853/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1958A00041 |archive-date=10 January 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The act also gives Western Australian courts judicial power over Christmas Island. Christmas Island remains constitutionally distinct from Western Australia, however; the power of the state to legislate for the territory is delegated by the federal government. The kind of services typically provided by a state government elsewhere in Australia are provided by departments of the Western Australian government, and by contractors, with the costs met by the federal government. A&nbsp;unicameral [[Shire of Christmas Island]] with nine seats provides local government services and is elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. Elections are held every two years, with four or five of the members standing for election.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hill, Richard.|title=National recovery plan for the Christmas Island frigatebird Fregata andrewsi|date=2004|publisher=Dept of the Environment and Heritage|isbn=0-642-55008-5|oclc=767835680}}</ref> {{As of|2024}} women held one of the nine seats in the Christmas Island Shire Council.<ref name="council">{{cite web |title=Councillors |url=https://www.shire.gov.cx/councillors |publisher=Shire of Christmas Island |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619001735/https://www.shire.gov.cx/councillors |archive-date=2022-06-19 |url-status=live |access-date=24 March 2024}}</ref> Its second president was [[Lillian Oh]], from 1993 to 1995.

The most recent local election took place on 18 October 2025 alongside elections in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Council Elections |url=https://www.shire.gov.cx/council-elections |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Shire of Christmas I |language=en}}</ref> 

In 2025 Shire Elections, the incumbent lost the vote, installing Tracey Krepp,Stephanie Lai and Gordon Thomson. Hafiz Mazli and Kee Heng Foo lost their positions as councillors.  
The overall majority of the Unity Party was lost, for the first time in many years resulting in Steven Pereira being elected as President, Swee "Mel" Tung as Deputy President at the October 20 special meeting.<ref>{{cite web | title=Councillors &#124; Shire of Christmas Island | url=https://www.shire.gov.cx/councillors }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=PublicNotices | url=https://www.shire.gov.cx/public-notices-1 }}</ref>

Christmas Island residents who are Australian citizens vote in Australian [[Elections in Australia|federal elections]]. Christmas Island residents are represented in the House of Representatives by the [[Division of Lingiari]] in the [[Northern Territory]] and in the Senate by Northern Territory senators.<ref name="AEC">{{cite web |title=Profile of the electoral division of Lingiari (NT) |url=http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/nt/lingiari.htm|publisher=Australian Electoral Commission |access-date=2 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425054016/http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/nt/lingiari.htm |archive-date=25 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[2019 Australian federal election|2019 federal election]], the [[Australian Labor Party|Labor Party]] received majorities from Christmas Island electors in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.<ref name="senate">{{cite web |url=http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/SenatePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-8886.htm |title=Senate polling places on Christmas Island |department=Remote Mobile Team 20 |publisher=Australian Elections Commission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235129/http://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/SenatePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-20499-8886.htm |archive-date=19 January 2018 }}</ref><ref name="house">{{cite web |title=House of Representatives polling places on Christmas Island |url=https://tallyroom.aec.gov.au/HousePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-24310-83194.htm |department=Remote Mobile Team 20 |publisher=Australian Elections Commission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524091301/https://tallyroom.aec.gov.au/HousePollingPlaceFirstPrefs-24310-83194.htm |archive-date=24 May 2019}}</ref>

===Defence and police===
While there is no permanent Australian military presence on Christmas Island, the [[Royal Australian Navy]] and [[Australian Border Force]] deploy ''{{sclass2|Cape|patrol boat|5}}'' and {{sclass|Armidale|patrol boat|0}} patrol boats to conduct surveillance and counter migrant smuggling patrols in adjacent waters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defence.gov.au/operations/resolute |title=Operation Resolute |website=Australian Government – Defence |access-date=20 August 2023}}</ref> {{Asof|2023|post=,}} the Navy's ''Armidale''-class boats are in the process of being replaced by larger {{sclass|Arafura|offshore patrol vessel|1}}s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/politics/defence/navy-bids-farewell-to-veteran-patrol-boats-c-6629562 |title=Navy bids farewell to veteran patrol boats |website=7 News |access-date=20 August 2023|date=29 April 2022 |last=Bunch |first=Aaron}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.gov.au/fleet/ships-boats-craft/future/opv |title=Arafura Class OPV |website=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=20 August 2023}}</ref> Christmas Island is increasingly perceived as a strategic location for monitoring Chinese submarine activity in the Indian Ocean.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Needham |first=Kirsty |date=7 November 2025 |title=Google to build new AI data centre on tiny Australian Indian Ocean outpost |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/google-planning-powerful-ai-data-centre-tiny-australian-indian-ocean-outpost-2025-11-06/ |access-date=7 November 2025 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

The airfield on Christmas Island has a 2100m long runway, while that on [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands|Cocos]] (West Island, {{cvt|1000|km|disp=comma}} to the west) is {{cvt|2400|m}} in length. Both airfields have scheduled jet services; however, the airfield on Cocos is being upgraded by the [[Australian Defence Force]] for the purpose of acting as a forward operating base for Australian surveillance and electronic warfare aircraft in the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-16/adf-cocos-keeling-islands-384m-runway-cost-blowout-delay/101854906 |title=$384m cost blowout on ADF plan to upgrade airstrip, boost military presence on Cocos (Keeling) Islands |website=ABC |access-date=19 August 2023|date=15 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.griffith.edu.au/asiainsights/australian-defences-forgotten-indian-ocean-territories/ |title=Australian Defence's Forgotten Indian Ocean Territories |website=Griffith Asia Insights |access-date=19 August 2023|date=29 June 2023 |last=Layton |first=Peter}}</ref>

The [[Australian Federal Police]] provides community policing services to Christmas Island and also carries out duties related to immigration enforcement, the processing of visiting aircraft and ships, and in coordinating emergency operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/territories/indian-ocean-territories/christmas-island/governance-administration |title=Christmas Island governance and administration |website=Australian Government – Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and the Arts |access-date=19 August 2023}}</ref>

===Residents' views===
{{Quote box|align=right|width=30%|quote=There are some people who have never wanted the detention centre here. There are some of those, like me, who think it's wrong to imprison people who have done no crime – the whole policy and legal structure that's evolved to detain asylum seekers is repugnant to some people like me. We're a minority. Other people don't like Muslims.|source=<small>Shire president Gordon Thomson speaking in a phone interview to ''The Spinoff''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Manhire |first1=Toby |title="Australia's Guantanamo Bay" – An Interview with the Christmas Island Mayor |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/25-12-2015/summer-reissue-australias-guantanamo-bay-an-interview-with-the-christmas-island-mayor |access-date=8 June 2024 |publisher=The Spinoff |date=25 December 2015}}</ref></small>|quoted = 1}}
Residents find the system of administration frustrating, with the island run by bureaucrats in the federal government, but subject to the laws of Western Australia and enforced by federal police. There is a feeling of resignation that any progress on local issues is hampered by the confusing governance system. A number of islanders support self-governance, including ex-shire President Gordon Thompson, who also believes that a lack of news media to cover local affairs had contributed to political apathy among residents.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-07/apathy-and-disillusionment-on-christmas-island-ahead-of-election/10666454 |access-date=7 March 2019 |title=Apathy and disillusionment on Christmas Island as residents prepare for federal election |first=Tom |last=Joyner |date=7 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307053634/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-07/apathy-and-disillusionment-on-christmas-island-ahead-of-election/10666454 |archive-date=7 March 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Flag===
[[Image:Flag of Christmas Island.svg|thumb|Flag of Christmas Island]]
In early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag; the winning design was adopted as the informal flag of the territory for over a decade, and in 2002 it was made the official [[flag of Christmas Island]]. At the centre of the flag is a yellow roundel showing an image of the island in green.

==Economy==
Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened by Phosphate Resources Limited, a consortium that included many of the former mine workers as shareholders and is the largest contributor to the Christmas Island economy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cirp.com.au/about-us/social-economic-impact/|title=Social & Economic Impact|access-date=15 April 2021|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415053329/https://cirp.com.au/about-us/social-economic-impact/|url-status=live}}</ref>

With the support of the government, the $34&nbsp;million [[Christmas Island Resort|Christmas Island Casino and Resort]] opened in 1993 but was closed in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cowie|first=Tom|date=5 October 2018|title=With chips down, Christmas Island wants to gamble on casino revival|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/with-chips-down-christmas-island-wants-to-gamble-on-casino-revival-20181005-p5081d.html|access-date=2 February 2021|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|archive-date=23 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223084523/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/with-chips-down-christmas-island-wants-to-gamble-on-casino-revival-20181005-p5081d.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Australian government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial [[spaceport]] on the island; however, this has not yet been constructed and appears that it will not proceed. The Howard government built a temporary immigration detention centre on the island in 2001 and planned to replace it with a larger, modern facility at North West Point until Howard's defeat in the [[2007 Australian federal election|2007 elections]].

Tourism is a growing industry on the island. The peak periods for tourism are the red crab migration in October–December and bird/nature week in August/September.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/territories/publications/files/ToR_Review_Tourism_IOT_August_2019.pdf |title=Review of Tourism - Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Terms of Reference |publisher=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts |page=2 |date=August 2019 |access-date=10 August 2025}}</ref> In the University of Queensland study "Strengthening sustainability of the Indian Ocean Territories (IOT) Marine Parks & local economy through collaborative world-class ecotourism" with results released in May 2025, it was established there is significant community support for tourism on Christmas Island with 77% of the population wanting to see more tourists and 84% of residents believing that the development of tourism is crucial for the economic future of the island.

==Culture==
[[Christmas Island cuisine]] can best be described as an eclectic combination of traditional [[Australian cuisine]] and [[Asian cuisine]].

The main local organisation that promotes and supports the status and interests of female Christmas Islanders is the [[Christmas Island Women's Association]] which was established in 1989 and is a member organisation of the [[Associated Country Women of the World]].<ref name="Ciwa">{{cite web | url=http://www.ciwa.org.cx/CIWA.htm | title=Christmas Island Women's Association| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331101357/http://www.ciwa.org.cx/|archive-date=31 March 2015| access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="acww">{{cite journal |title=Society reports 2013–2016: The South Pacific: Christmas Island: The Christmas Island Women's Association (CIWA) |journal=Triennial Report of the Work of the ACWW |date=2016 |page=63 |url=https://www.acww.org.uk/docs/report_of_work_2016.pdf |publisher=[[Associated Country Women of the World]] |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=7 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407085631/https://www.acww.org.uk/docs/report_of_work_2016.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> [[File:Christmas Island (5775114458).jpg|thumb|Trekking across the backroads of Christmas Island]]
Christmas Island is well known for its biological diversity. There are many rare species of animals and plants on the island, making nature-walking a popular activity. Along with the diversity of species, many different types of caves exist, such as plateau caves, coastal caves, raised coastal caves and alcoves, sea caves, fissure caves, collapse caves, and basalt caves; most of these are near the sea and have been formed by the action of water. Altogether, there are approximately 30&nbsp;caves on the island,<ref>{{cite journal |title=The History of Christmas Island and the Management of its Karst Features |last=Meek |first=Paul D. |journal=[[Helictite (journal)|Helictite]] |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=31–36 |url=http://helictite.caves.org.au/pdf1/37.2.Meek.pdf |access-date=17 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315004023/http://helictite.caves.org.au/pdf1/37.2.Meek.pdf |archive-date=15 March 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> with Lost Lake Cave, Daniel Roux Cave, and Full Frontal Cave being the most well-known. The many freshwater springs include Hosnies Spring Ramsar, which also has a [[mangrove]] stand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hosnies Spring Ramsar site Ecological Character Description |url=https://www.dcceew.gov.au/water/wetlands/publications/hosnies-spring-ramsar-site-ecd}}</ref> The Dales is a [[rainforest]] in the western part of the island and consists of seven deep valleys, all of which were formed by spring streams. Hugh's Dale waterfall is part of this area and is a popular attraction. The annual breeding migration of the [[Christmas Island red crab]]s is a popular event.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red crab migration |url=https://parksaustralia.gov.au/christmas/discover/highlights/red-crab-migration/ |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=parksaustralia.gov.au |language=en-au}}</ref>

Fishing is another common activity. There are many distinct species of fish in the oceans surrounding Christmas Island. Snorkelling and swimming in the ocean are two other activities that are extremely popular. Walking trails are also very popular, for there are many beautiful trails surrounded by extravagant [[flora]] and [[fauna]]. 63% of the island is covered by the [[Christmas Island National Park]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Griggs |first=Mary Beth |title=Christmas Island Is 63 Percent National Parkland...And Has More Crabs Than People |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/christmas-island-63-national-parklandand-has-more-crabs-people-180950442/ |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

=== Sport ===
Cricket and rugby league are the two main organised sports on the island.

The Christmas Island Cricket Club was founded in 1959, and is now known as the Christmas Island Cricket and Sporting Club. [[Australian rules football|Aussie rules]] was popular from 1995 to 2014 and games were played between the visiting Royal Australian Navy and the locals. There was also one international game representing Australia, which was played in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2006 against the Jakarta Bintangs. Auskick was also presented for the kids and they participated in two years as represented in AFL games of half time entertainment between 2006 and 2010. In 2019 the club celebrated its 60-year anniversary. The club entered its first representative team into the WACA Country Week in 2020, where they were runners up in the F-division.

[[Rugby league]] is growing in the island: the first game was played in 2016, and a local committee, with the support of [[NRL Western Australia]], is willing to organise matches with the nearby [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands|Cocos Islands]] and to create a rugby league competition in the Indian Ocean region.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hope |first=Ash |date=December 2018 |title=Christmas Time |journal=Rugby League World |issue=453 |pages=74–75 |issn=1466-0105}}</ref>

Unlike [[Norfolk Island]], another external territory of Australia, Christmas Island does not participate in the [[Commonwealth Games]] or the [[Pacific Games]], though Pacific Games participation has been discussed.<ref name="Nick 2017">{{cite web | last=Butler | first=Nick | title=West Papua, Hawaii and Christmas Island mooted as future Pacific Mini Games participants | website=insidethegames.biz | date=2017-12-13 | url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1059089/west-papua-hawaii-and-christmas-island-mooted-as-future-pacific-mini-games-participants | access-date=2024-04-05}}</ref>

[[Scuba diving]] and [[Snorkeling|snorkelling]] are popular on the island, with many locals and visitors partaking in the activity. Historically, there was the Christmas Island Divers Association (now defunct) with a shed near the Old European Cemetery. Now there are two marine diving and snorkler operators, offering courses [[Scuba Schools International|SSI]] and PADI, try dives, and boat trips. Most of the dive sites are on the northern coastline. During the swell season, the east coast is available via Ethel Beach Boat Ramp.
Some notable dive sites include:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.extradivers.com.au/dive-sites |title=Dive Sites Christmas Island |website=extradivers.com.au |access-date=10 August 2025}}</ref> Flying Fish Cove, the [[MV Eidsvold (1934)|''Eidsvold'' wreck]] (a phosphate ship torpedoed by the Japanese in 1942), Thundercliff Cave, West White Beach, Perpendicular Wall, Million Dollar Bommie, Chicken Farm, and Coconut Point.

==Flora and fauna==
{{main|Wildlife of Christmas Island}}
{{See also|List of birds of Christmas Island|List of mammals of Christmas Island|List of reptiles of Christmas Island}}
[[File:Cococrb2.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Coconut crab|Robber crab (coconut crab)]]]]
[[File:Christmas Island (5775069028).jpg|thumb|[[Christmas Island red crab]]]]
[[File:Red-footed booby.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Red-footed booby|Red-footed boobies]]]]
[[File:Anous stolidus nesting cropped.JPG|thumb|[[Common noddy]]]]
[[File:Brown booby.jpg|thumb|[[Brown booby]]]]

Christmas Island was uninhabited until the late 19th century, allowing many species to evolve without human interference. Two-thirds of the island has been declared a [[National park|National Park]], which is managed by the Australian Department of Environment and Heritage through Parks Australia. Christmas Island contains unique species, both of flora and fauna, some of which are threatened or have become extinct.

===Flora===
The dense [[rainforest]] has grown in the deep soils of the [[plateau]] and on the terraces. The forests are dominated by 25 tree species. Ferns, orchids, and vines grow on the branches in the humid atmosphere beneath the [[Canopy (botany)|canopy]]. The 135 plant species include at least 18 [[Endemism|endemic species]]. The rainforest is in great condition despite the mining activities over the last 100 years. Areas that have been damaged by mining are now a part of an ongoing rehabilitation project.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Essential Christmas Island Travel Guide|last=Tierney|first=Beth|publisher=Christmas Island Tourism Association|year=2007}}</ref>

Christmas Island's endemic plants include the trees ''[[Arenga listeri]]'', ''[[Pandanus elatus]]'', and ''[[Dendrocnide peltata]]'' var. ''murrayana''; the [[shrub]]s ''[[Abutilon listeri]]'', ''[[Colubrina pedunculata]]'', ''[[Grewia insularis]]'', and ''[[Pandanus christmatensis]]''; the vines ''[[Hoya aldrichii]]'' and ''[[Zehneria alba]]''; the [[herbaceous plant|herb]]s ''[[Asystasia alba]]'', ''[[Dicliptera maclearii]]'', and ''[[Peperomia rossii]]''; the grass ''[[Ischaemum nativitatis]]''; the fern ''[[Asplenium listeri]]''; and the orchids ''[[Brachypeza archytas]]'', ''[[Dendrobium nativitatis]]'', ''[[Phreatia listeri]]'', and ''[[Zeuxine exilis]]''.<ref>Christmas Island National Park: Flora.</ref>

===Fauna===
Two species of native rats, the [[Maclear's rat|Maclear's]] and [[bulldog rat]]s, have become extinct since the island was settled, while the [[Javan rusa]] deer has been introduced. The endemic [[Christmas Island shrew]] has not been seen since the mid-1980s and was recently declared extinct, while the [[Christmas Island pipistrelle]] (a small bat) is presumed to be extinct.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://environment.gov.au/parks/index.html |title=Parks Australia |access-date=3 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912013529/http://environment.gov.au/parks/index.html |archive-date=12 September 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The fruit bat (flying fox) species ''[[Christmas Island flying fox|Pteropus natalis]]'' is only found on Christmas Island; its epithet ''natalis'' is a reference to that name. The species is probably the last native mammal, and is an important pollinator and rainforest seed-disperser; the population is also in decline and under increasing pressure from land clearing and introduced pest species. The flying fox's low rate of reproduction (one pup each year) and high infant mortality rate makes it especially vulnerable, and its conservation status is [[critically endangered]].<ref name="SPRAT2014">{{cite web |title=Pteropus natalis – Christmas Island Flying-fox, Christmas Island Fruit-bat |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=64801 |website=Species Profile and Threats Database |access-date=24 December 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707234104/http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=64801 |archive-date=7 July 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Flying foxes are an 'umbrella' species helping forests regenerate and other species survive in stressed environments.

The [[Terrestrial crab|land crabs]] and [[seabird]]s are the most noticeable fauna on the island. Christmas Island has been identified by [[BirdLife International]] as both an [[Endemic Bird Area]] and an [[Important Bird Area]] because it supports five endemic species and five subspecies as well as over 1% of the world populations of five other seabirds.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=BirdLife International |year=2011 |title=Important Bird Areas factsheet: Christmas Island |website=www.birdlife.org |url=http://www.birdlife.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011128211428/http://www.birdlife.org/ |archive-date=28 November 2001 |access-date=23 December 2011}}</ref>

Twenty terrestrial and intertidal species of crab have been described here, of which thirteen are regarded as true land crabs, being dependent on the ocean only for larval development. Robber crabs, known elsewhere as [[coconut crab]]s, also exist in large numbers on the island. The annual [[Christmas Island red crab|red crab]] mass migration to the sea to spawn has been called one of the wonders of the natural world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ga.gov.au/education/facts/dimensions/externalterr/christma.htm |title=Geoscience Australia on Christmas Island |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205053513/http://www.ga.gov.au/education/facts/dimensions/externalterr/christma.htm |archive-date=5 February 2007 }}</ref> This takes place each year around November – after the start of the [[wet season]] and in synchronisation with the cycle of the [[moon]]. Once at the ocean, the mothers release the embryos where they can survive and grow until they are able to live on land.

The island is a focal point for seabirds of various species. Eight species or [[subspecies]] of seabirds nest on it. The most numerous is the [[red-footed booby]], which nests in colonies, using trees on many parts of the shore terrace. The widespread [[brown booby]] nests on the ground near the edge of the seacliff and inland cliffs. [[Abbott's booby]] (listed as [[Endangered species|endangered]]) nests on tall emergent trees of the western, northern and southern plateau rainforest, the only remaining nesting habitat for this bird in the world.

Of the ten native land birds and shorebirds, seven are endemic species or subspecies. This includes the [[Christmas island thrush]] and the [[Christmas imperial pigeon]]. Some 86 migrant bird species have been recorded as visitors to the island. The [[Christmas frigatebird]] has nesting areas on the northeastern shore terraces. The more widespread [[great frigatebird]]s nest in semi-[[deciduous]] trees on the shore terrace, with the greatest concentrations being in the North West and South Point areas. The [[Brown noddy|common noddy]] and two species of bosun or [[tropicbird]]s also nest on the island, including the golden bosun (''P. l. fulvus''), a subspecies of the [[white-tailed tropicbird]] that is endemic to the island.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Phaethon lepturus fulvus — Christmas Island White-tailed Tropicbird, Golden Bosunbird|url=https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=26021|url-status=live|website=Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708004303/http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=26021 |archive-date=8 July 2017 }}</ref>

Six species of butterfly are known to occur on Christmas Island. These are the Christmas swallowtail (''[[Papilio memnon]]''), striped albatross (''[[Appias olferna]]''), Christmas emperor (''[[Polyura andrewsi]]''), king cerulean (''[[Jamides bochus]]''), lesser grass-blue (''[[Zizina otis]]''), and Papuan grass-yellow (''[[Eurema blanda]]'').<ref name="butterflies">{{cite book|last=Braby|first=Michael F.|title=The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia|url=https://archive.org/details/The_Complete_Field_Guide_to_Butterflies_of_Australia|year=2008|publisher=CSIRO Publishing|isbn=978-0-643-09027-9}}</ref>

Insect species include the [[yellow crazy ant]] (''Anoplolepis gracilipes''), introduced to the island and since subjected to attempts to destroy the [[Ant supercolony|supercolonies]] that emerged with aerial spraying of the insecticide [[Fipronil]].<ref name="EWG2010">{{cite web |last1=Beeton |first1=Bob |last2=Burbidge |first2=Andrew |title=Final report: Christmas Island Expert Working Group |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/final-report-christmas-island-expert-working-group |website=National Parks |publisher=Department of the Environment and Energy |access-date=24 December 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224170540/http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/final-report-christmas-island-expert-working-group |archive-date=24 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Media==
Radio broadcasts to Christmas Island from Australia include [[Radio National|ABC Radio National]], [[ABC Kimberley]], [[Triple J]], and [[Hit Western Australia|Hit WA]] (Formerly [[Red FM (Australia)|Red FM]]). All services are provided by satellite links from the mainland. [[Broadband|Broadband internet]] became available to subscribers in urban areas in mid-2005 through the local internet service provider, [[Internet in Christmas Island|CIIA]] (formerly&nbsp;dotCX). Because of its proximity to South East Asia, Christmas Island falls within many of the satellite footprints throughout the region. This results in ideal conditions for receiving various Asian broadcasts, which locals sometimes prefer to those emanating from Western Australia. Additionally, ionospheric conditions are conducive to terrestrial radio transmissions, from [[High frequency|HF]] through [[Very high frequency|VHF]] and sometimes into [[Ultra high frequency|UHF]]. The island is home to a small array of radio equipment that spans a good chunk of the usable spectrum. A variety of government-owned and operated antenna systems are employed on the island to take advantage of this.

===Local radio===
There is a local community radio station run by volunteers. Christmas Island Radio, known as 6RCI, serves as the backing track of the island's community, broadcasting across 102.1 FM and 105.3 FM. The radio began streaming online in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.6rci.net |title=Welcome to Christmas Island Community Radio |publisher=6RCI |access-date=10 August 2025}}</ref> There is a large record collection stored in the building of old Chinese and Malay records. The station also broadcasts emergency messages.

===Television===
Free-to-air digital television stations from [[Australia]] are broadcast in the same time zone as [[Perth]] and are broadcast from three separate locations:<ref>{{cite web|title=List of licensed broadcasting transmitters|url=http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Broadcast/Television/List-of-TV-broadcasters|publisher=ACMA|access-date=28 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211224613/http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Broadcast/Television/List-of-TV-broadcasters|archive-date=11 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Broadcaster
! [[Drumsite]]
! Phosphate Hill
! Rocky Point
|-
| [[ABW (TV station)|ABC]]
| ABC 6
| ABC 34
| ABC 40
|-
| [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]]
| SBS 7
| SBS 35
| SBS 41
|-
| [[GWN7|WAW]]
| WAW 8
| WAW 36
| WAW 42
|-
| [[WOW (TV station)|WOW]]
| WOW 10
| WOW 36
| WOW 43
|-
| [[West Digital Television|WDW]]
| WDW 11
| WDW 38
| WDW 44
|}
Cable television from Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States commenced in January 2013.

===Telecommunications===
Telephone and internet services on Christmas Island are provided by multiple operators. [[Telstra]] remains a major provider and integrates the island into the Australian telecommunications network, using the same prefix as Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory&nbsp;(08).<ref name=2g1/> In February 2005, a 900&nbsp;MHz band [[GSM]] based 2G mobile telephone system replaced the old analogue network.<ref name=2g1>{{cite web |url=https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/territories/indian-ocean-territories/christmas-island/travel-information |title=Christmas Island travel information |website=Infrastructure and Regional Development |access-date=2022-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627170331/http://regional.gov.au/territories/Christmas/traveller_info.aspx |archive-date=27 June 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, a 4,600 kilometre long, 60 terabits per second, high-capacity backhaul sole submarine cable connection between Australia and Christmas Island was implemented to replace the existing satellite based 2G mobile network with 4GX technology with enhanced mobile and data services on Christmas Island.<ref name=4gu>[https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/1264087/vocus-and-telstra-team-up-on-christmas-island-mobile-project.html Vocus and Telstra team up on Christmas Island mobile project], ARN News, 11 May 2022.</ref>

CiFi, a local mobile phone and internet services provider, launched operations in 2020. It has established a carrier-grade 4G LTE mobile network and a fixed wireless broadband service, offering high-speed internet connectivity to both residents and visitors.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.cifi.com.au |website=CiFi |access-date=2025-05-26}}</ref>

In 2025, Google is planning sub sea cables to the Island, with an AI data centre, potentially for military use.<ref>{{cite web | title=Google to build data centre on Christmas Island | url=https://www.afr.com/technology/google-plans-a-powerful-ai-data-centre-on-tiny-australian-outpost-20251107-p5n8fk }}</ref>

===Newspapers===
The [[Shire of Christmas Island]] publishes a fortnightly newsletter, [[The Islander (Christmas Island)|''The Islander'']].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Islander|url=https://www.shire.gov.cx/the-islander|access-date=16 September 2020|website=Shire of Christmas Island|language=en|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919173957/https://www.shire.gov.cx/the-islander|url-status=live}}</ref> There are no independent newspapers.<ref name=":0" />

===Postage stamps===
{{Main|Postage stamps and postal history of Christmas Island}}
[[File:Stamp Christmas Island 1958 2c.jpg|thumb|upright|Postage stamp with portrait of [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth&nbsp;II]], 1958]]
A postal agency was opened on the island in 1901 and sold [[Postage stamps and postal history of the Straits Settlements|stamps of the Strait Settlements]].<ref name="GSM 102008">{{cite magazine |first=Richard |last=Breckon |title=Christmas Island's stamps and postal history: 50&nbsp;years of Australian administration |magazine=Gibbons Stamp Monthly |date=October 2008 |pages=81–85}}</ref> After the Japanese occupation (1942–1945), postage stamps of the [[British Military Administration (Malaya)|British Military Administration]] in [[British Malaya|Malaya]] were in use, followed by stamps of Singapore.<ref name="StG Aus">{{cite book |title=Commonwealth Stamp Catalogue Australia |first=Stanley |last=Gibbons |edition=4th |year=2007 |pages=104–112}}</ref> In 1958, the island received its own postage stamps after being put under Australian custody. It had a large philatelic and postal independence, managed first by the Phosphate Commission (1958–1969) and then by the island's administration (1969–1993).<ref name="GSM 102008" /> This ended on 2&nbsp;March 1993 when [[Australia Post]] became the island's postal operator; Christmas Island stamps may be used in Australia and Australian stamps may be used on the island.<ref name="StG Aus" />

==Transport==
[[Image:Red Crab Migration (25172962299).jpg|thumb|Transportation routes in Christmas Island are periodically affected due to road closures to protect the island's crab migration]]
A container port exists at Flying Fish Cove with an alternative container-unloading point to the east of the island at Norris Point, intended for use during the December-to-March "swell season" of rough seas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/articles/new-port-facility-christmas-island|title=New Port Facility on Christmas Island|website=scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au|access-date=4 March 2023|archive-date=7 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307123242/https://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/articles/new-port-facility-christmas-island|url-status=dead}}</ref> The now-defunct [[Standard-gauge railway|standard gauge]] {{convert|18|km|abbr=on}} [[Christmas Island Phosphate Co.'s Railway]] from Flying Fish Cove to the phosphate mine was constructed in 1914. It was closed in December&nbsp;1987, when the Australian government closed the mine, and since has been recovered as scrap, leaving only earthworks in places.

[[Virgin Australia]] provided two weekly flights up to 31st October 2025, whereupon Qantaslink took over<ref name="Qantas">{{cite web |title=QANTASLINK LAUNCHES NEW FLIGHTS TO CHRISTMAS ISLAND AND COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS |url=https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantaslink-launches-new-flights-to-christmas-island-and-cocos-keeling-islands/ |website=Qantas |access-date=29 October 2025}}</ref>) to Christmas Island from Perth in Western Australia, with the service connecting to Cocos (Keeling) Islands in both directions. On the announcement of the change of contract, all forward flight bookings were cancelled by Virgin on Thursday 21st August 2025, with all passengers to get a refund and told to rebook.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Ocean Territories Community Bulletins 2025 |url=https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions/territories/indian-ocean-territories-christmas-island-and-cocos-keeling-islands/community-bulletins-updates-and-media-releases/indian-ocean-territories-community-bulletins-2025 |website=infrastructure.gov.au |access-date=29 October 2025}}</ref>

A fortnightly freight flight provides fresh supplies to the island. Rental cars are available from the [[Christmas Island Airport]]; however, no franchised companies are represented. Visitors are advised to prebook as there is limited quantity.<ref name="cocofly1">{{cite news |last1=Parish |first1=Rebecca |title=Christmas Island's sole taxi operator gets red-tape run-around over WA Government legislation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-10/christmas-island-taxi-operator-gets-red-tape-run-around/11588172 |access-date=20 October 2019 |work=ABC News |date=10 October 2019 |archive-date=21 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021110208/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-10/christmas-island-taxi-operator-gets-red-tape-run-around/11588172 |url-status=live }}</ref> Road conditions across the island can vary, though inclement weather can cause the roads to become slippery or damaged.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Getting around |url=https://parksaustralia.gov.au/christmas/plan/getting-around/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=parksaustralia.gov.au |language=en-au}}</ref> Many of the tracks on the island are restricted to four-wheel-drive vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frequently asked questions |url=https://parksaustralia.gov.au/christmas/about/faq/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=parksaustralia.gov.au |language=en-au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Grossetti |first=Carla |date=13 February 2023 |title=The best walks and wildlife experiences on Christmas Island |url=https://www.australiantraveller.com/christmas-island/walks-and-wildlife-experiences-on-christmas-island/ |access-date=2 June 2024 |website=Australian Traveller}}</ref>

[[QantasLink]] now operates a service to Christmas Island from 3rd November 2025, and will schedule flights on Monday, Friday, and Saturday.<ref name="Qantas" /> Flights are available online. Offering 32k of luggage. 
Qantas provised services under a government contract.

==Education==
The island-operated [[child care|crèche]] is in the Recreation Centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shire.gov.cx/Recreation_Centre/crechemain.html |title=Recreation Centre |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915191041/http://shire.gov.cx///Recreation_Centre/crechemain.html |archive-date=15 September 2009 }}</ref> [[Christmas Island District High School]], catering to students in grades [[K-12#P–12|P-12]], is run by the [[Department of Education (Western Australia)|Western Australian Education Department]]. There are no universities on Christmas Island. The island has one [[public library]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shire.gov.cx/Community_Services/library.html |title=Public library |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915190947/http://shire.gov.cx///Community_Services/library.html |archive-date=15 September 2009 }}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Australia|Geography|Islands|Oceania}}
* [[.cx]], top-level domain country code for Christmas Island
* [[Index of Christmas Island–related articles]]
* [[Outline of Christmas Island]]

==Notes==
{{notelist|1}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/christmas/nature/flora.html |title=Flora: Endemic plants |access-date=25 December 2012 |website=Parks and Reserves: Christmas Island National Park |publisher=Australia Government |department=Dept. of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities |date=21 November 2012}}
* {{CIA World Factbook}}
* {{Cite web |first=Klemen |last=L. |title=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942 |year=1999–2000 |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726053035/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/index.html |archive-date=26 July 2011 }}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{Cite book |first1=Jan |last1=Adams |first2=Marg |last2=Neale |year=1993 |title=Christmas Island – The Early Years – 1888–1958 |publisher=Bruce Neale |isbn=0-646-14894-X}} 96&nbsp;pages, including many b&w photographs.
* {{Cite book |first1=Gerald R. |last1=Allen |first2=Roger C. |last2=Steene |year=1998 |title=Fishes of Christmas Island |publisher=Christmas Island Natural History Association |isbn=0-9591210-1-3 |edition=1}} 197&nbsp;pages including many photographs and plates.
* {{Cite book |first1=Gerald R. |last1=Allen |first2=Roger C. |last2=Steene |first3=Max |last3=Orchard |isbn=978-0-9591210-8-7 |title=Fishes of Christmas Island |edition=2 |year=2007 |publisher=Christmas Island Natural History Association}}
* {{Cite journal |first=Charles W. |last=Andrews |title=A Description of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) |journal=Geographical Journal |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=17–35 |year=1899 |doi=10.2307/1774789 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/1449220 |jstor=1774789 |bibcode=1899GeogJ..13...17A |access-date=12 September 2019 |archive-date=30 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230031243/https://zenodo.org/record/1449220 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite journal |url=http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=5316016&jid=GEO&volumeId=7&issueId=07&aid=5316008 |volume=II |title=A Monograph of Christmas Island |series=Indian Ocean: Physical Features and Geology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805060407/http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=5316016&jid=GEO&volumeId=7&issueId=07&aid=5316008 |archive-date=5 August 2011 |first=Charles W. |last=Andrews |journal=Geological Magazine |quote=With descriptions of the fauna and flora by numerous contributors. [[octavo|8vo]]; xiii+337&nbsp;pp., 22&nbsp;plates, 1&nbsp;map, text illustrated. |publisher=British Museum |place=London, UK |year=1900 |issue=7 |pages=330–331 |doi=10.1017/S0016756800174461 |url-access=subscription }}
* {{Cite book |first=Cyril |last=Ayris |year=1993 |title=Tai Ko Seng – Gordon Bennett of Christmas Island |publisher=Gordon Bennett Educational Foundation |isbn=0-646-15483-4}} 263 pages including photographs.
* {{Cite book |editor-last=Bosman |editor-first=D. |year=1993 |title=Christmas Island Police – 1958–1983 |publisher=D Bosman}} 112&nbsp;pages including many photographs.
* {{Cite web |title=Christmas Island |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/christmas-island/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126032949/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/christmas-island/ |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |year=1984 |title=Christmas Island, Indian Ocean – a Unique Island |publisher=Published by a committee of present and former employees of the phosphate mining company}} 60&nbsp;pages including colour photographs.
* {{Cite book |first=H.S. |last=Gray |year=1981 |title=Christmas Island Naturally |publisher=H.S. Gray |isbn=0-9594105-0-3}} 133&nbsp;pages including many colour photographs.
* {{Cite book |first1=John |last1=Hicks |first2=Holger |last2=Rumpff |first3=Hugh |last3= Yorkston |year=1984 |title=Christmas Crabs |publisher=Christmas Island Natural History Association |isbn=0-9591210-0-5}} 76&nbsp;pages including colour photographs.
* {{Cite book |first=John |last=Hunt |year=2011 |title=Suffering Through Strength: The men who made Christmas Island |publisher=J. Hunt |isbn=9780646550114}}
* {{Cite book |publisher=National Library of Australia |title=The Indian Ocean: a select bibliography |year=1979 |isbn=0-642-99150-2}}
* {{Cite book |last1=McGrath |first1=Tony |title=In Tropical Skies: A History of Aviation to Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands |date=2019 |publisher=Hesperian Press |location=Carlisle, WA |isbn=9780859057561}}
* {{Cite book |first=Margaret |last=Neale |year=1988 |title=We were the Christmas Islanders |publisher=Bruce Neale |isbn=0-7316-4158-2}} 207&nbsp;pages including many b&w photographs.
* {{Cite book |first=Max |last=Orchard |year=2012 |title=Crabs of Christmas Island |publisher=Christmas Island Natural History Association |isbn=9780646576428}} 288&nbsp;pages pictorial illustration of crabs.
* {{Cite book |first=Tony |last=Stokes |year=2012 |title=Whatever Will Be, I'll See: Growing Up in the 1940s, 50s and 60s in the Northern Territory, Christmas and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory |publisher=Anthony Stokes |isbn=9780646575643}} 238 pages.
* {{Cite journal |first=W.J.L. |last=Wharton |title=Account of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and Monthly Record of Geography |volume=10 |issue=10 |pages=613–624 |year=1888 |doi=10.2307/1800848 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/1449408 |jstor=1800848 |access-date=11 November 2019 |archive-date=11 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111051852/https://zenodo.org/record/1449408 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite journal|last=Dunkley|first=Graham|date=1 September 1983|title=Book Reviews : The Union of Christmas Island Workers By Les Waters. George Allen and Unwin, Sydney, 1983, xi + 170 pp., $17.95 (hardback)|url=https://doi.org/10.1177/002218568302500317|journal=Journal of Industrial Relations|language=en|volume=25|issue=3|pages=389–390|doi=10.1177/002218568302500317|s2cid=153920231|issn=0022-1856|url-access=subscription}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*[https://www.christmasislandarchives.com/ Christmas Island Archives] – Featuring historical stories, articles and more.
*[https://christmasislandstories.org.au/ Christmas Island Stories] - Conserving and sharing the authentic stories of the people of Christmas Island.
*[https://www.thecollectingbug.com/civm/explore Christmas Island Virtual Museum] – Presenting historical artifacts, coins and ephemera.
*[https://www.christmas.net.au/ Christmas Island Tourism Association - Tourism information about the island]

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