Christmas Island

Christmas Island is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean, south of Java. Its main settlement is Flying Fish Cove.

Find Christmas Island

● Main settlement · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers. This island lies in the Indian Ocean and is grouped with Australia in the deck.

At a glance

Main settlement: Flying Fish Cove
Languages: English, Chinese & Malay
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD)
Population: 1,6922021 Census · Australian Bureau of Statistics
Area: 135 km²52.12 square miles
Australian territory: 1958Transferred from British administration.

Christmas Island in context

Oceania and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Flying Fish Cove; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.

Natural Earth · locator map

Geography & languages

Physical geography

Steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau.

Languages

English is used in administration. Chinese languages and Malay are important in the island’s communities.

Location

Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia.

Flag

Territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper left to lower right; the upper triangle is green with a yellow silhouette of the golden bosun bird; the lower triangle is blue and shows the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia; a centered yellow disk displays a green outline of the island

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Australian Government · Christmas Island economy · Australian Government · environment and heritage

History & status

Britain annexed Christmas Island in 1888, and phosphate mining shaped its subsequent settlement and economy. Japanese forces occupied the island during the Second World War. Administration passed from the UK to Australia in 1958. The island is an Australian external territory, rather than an independent country.

1888
Britain annexes Christmas Island
1942
Japanese occupation begins
1958
Christmas Island becomes an Australian territory
1980
Christmas Island National Park is established

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Australian Government · Christmas Island economy · Australian Government · environment and heritage

Economy

Main activities

Public services and phosphate mining are important economic activities. Tourism centres on the island’s wildlife, rainforest, marine environment and annual red crab migration. Its small market and isolated location make imported supplies and air and sea links especially important.

Industry and production

Phosphate mining, public services, visitor accommodation, transport and retail.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Australian Government · Christmas Island economy · Australian Government · environment and heritage

Population

1,692 · 2021 Census · Australian Bureau of Statistics

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Australian Government · Christmas Island economy · Australian Government · environment and heritage

Government

An Australian external territory administered under Commonwealth law. An Administrator represents the Australian Government, and an elected Shire Council provides local services. Many state-type services are delivered through arrangements with Western Australia.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Australian Government · Christmas Island economy · Australian Government · environment and heritage

Knowledge check

Three questions about Christmas Island.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

In which year did this event occur in Christmas Island: Christmas Island becomes an Australian territory?

Sources & notes

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile · Australian Government · Christmas Island economy · Australian Government · environment and heritage

Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.

Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.