Christmas Island
Oceania Β· Capital: Flying Fish Cove
How it is run: Christmas Island is a territory or observer, so some decisions about it are made elsewhere. The research links below explain who is in charge.
Christmas Island is home to a community in Australia and New Zealand, where people speak English.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
Not counted in world data
πΊοΈ Land
135 kmΒ²
Smaller than most big cities β you could cross it in an afternoon.
ποΈ How crowded
Not enough data
π Size in its region
Part of Oceania
21st largest by land in Oceania.
π£οΈ Official languages
English
π° Money
Australian dollar ($)
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+61
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.cx
π§ People here are called
Christmas Islander
π·οΈ Name at home
Christmas Island
Also written: Territory of Christmas Island.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Not a UN member
Neighbours & borders π€
Christmas Island has no land borders at all. It is surrounded by water, so boats and planes are the way in and out.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Isla de Navidad
French
Γle Christmas
Arabic
Ψ¬Ψ²ΩΨ±Ψ© ΩΨ±ΩΨ³Ω Ψ§Ψ³
Chinese
ε£θ―ε²
Japanese
γ―γͺγΉγγΉε³Ά
Russian
ΠΡΡΡΠΎΠ² Π ΠΎΠΆΠ΄Π΅ΡΡΠ²Π°
Portuguese
Ilha do Natal
German
Weihnachtsinsel
Put it in perspective π
- All of Christmas Island would fit inside one large national park in many other countries.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Christmas Island shares its part of the world with Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
π·οΈ Official name
Territory of Christmas Island
ποΈ Capital
Flying Fish Cove
π Region
Oceania Β· Australia and New Zealand
π€ Country code
CX
ποΈ UN status
Not a UN member state
π© Independence
Linked territory
More about Christmas Island π
π§ Where on the map
10.5Β° S, 105.7Β° E
π Half of the world
Southern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+7 β when it is noon in London it is about 19:00 in Flying Fish Cove.
- Because of where Christmas Island sits, the school day there starts many hours before or after yours does.
- The capital of Christmas Island is Flying Fish Cove β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- π¨π½ is the flag of Christmas Island. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is CX.
- Christmas Island is a territory linked to another country, so some decisions are made elsewhere.
- Christmas Island shares its part of the world with Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Christmas Island has 1 official language. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Christmas Island can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Christmas Island spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Christmas Island?
Flying Fish Cove
Which money do people spend in Christmas Island?
Australian dollar ($)
How many countries share a land border with Christmas Island?
None β no land neighbours at all.
Roughly how many people live in Christmas Island?
World data does not count this place separately.
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.