🇨🇽 Christmas Island
Territory of Christmas Island
Territory and Sovereignty
Region: Oceania
Basic Information
Capital: Flying Fish Cove
Population: 1,843
Area: 135 km²
Subregion: Australia and New Zealand
Currencies: Australian dollar ($)
Languages: English
About territory
Christmas Island is an Australian external territory located in the Indian Ocean, south of Java and Sumatra. Discovered on Christmas Day in 1643, the island's name reflects this historical event. Its isolation has fostered a unique ecosystem with a high degree of endemic species, attracting scientific interest. Phosphate mining dominated the island's economy in the 20th century, initially under British control before transferring to Australia in 1958. Today, the island's economy relies on tourism and government services, with a small, diverse population.
Codes & Identifiers
ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2
CX
ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3
CXR
Flag Emoji
🇨🇽