_#_Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100% _#_Environment: almost completely surrounded by a reef _#_Note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean _*_People _#_Population: 2,278 (July 1991), growth rate NA% (1991) _#_Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991) _#_Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991) _#_Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991) _#_Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991) _#_Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991) _#_Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991) _#_Nationality: noun--Christmas Islander(s), adjective--Christmas Island _#_Ethnic divisions: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%; no indigenous population _#_Religion: Buddhist 36.1%, Muslim 25.4%, Christian 17.7% (Roman Catholic 8.2%, Church of England 3.2%, Presbyterian 0.9%, Uniting Church 0.4%, Methodist 0.2%, Baptist 0.1%, and other 4.7%), none 12.7%, unknown 4.6%, other 3.5% (1981) _#_Language: English _#_Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%) _#_Labor force: NA; all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island, Ltd. _#_Organized labor: NA _*_Government _#_Long-form name: Territory of Christmas Island _#_Type: territory of Australia _#_Capital: The Settlement _#_Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia) _#_Independence: none (territory of Australia) _#_Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958 _#_Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of Australia _#_National holiday: NA _#_Executive branch: British monarch, governor general of Australia, administrator, Advisory Council (cabinet) _#_Legislative branch: none _#_Judicial branch: none _#_Leaders: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Head of Government--Administrator A. D. TAYLOR (since NA) _#_Communists: none _#_Member of: none _#_Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia) _#_Flag: the flag of Australia is used _*_Economy _#_Overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine as no longer economically viable. Plans have been under way to reopen the mine and also to build a casino and hotel to develop tourism, with a possible opening date during the first half of 1992. _#_GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA% _#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% _#_Unemployment rate: 0% _#_Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA _#_Exports: $NA; commodities--phosphate; partners--Australia, NZ _#_Imports: $NA; commodities--NA; partners--NA _#_External debt: $NA _#_Industrial production: growth rate NA% _#_Electricity: 11,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced, 13,170 kWh per capita (1990) _#_Industries: phosphate extraction (near depletion)