_#_Climate: tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
_#_Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
_#_Natural resources: phosphate
_#_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);