Christmas Island Geography - 2023

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

10 30 S, 105 40 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area

total: 135 sq km

land: 135 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

138.9 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate

tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

Terrain

steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Elevation

highest point: Murray Hill 361 m

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

phosphate, beaches

Land use

agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

other: 100% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land

N/A

Population distribution

majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island

Natural hazards

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Geography - note

located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean

NOTE: The information regarding Christmas Island on this page is re-published from the 2023 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Christmas Island 2023 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Christmas Island 2023 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.