Welcome to Christmas Island 🇨🇽 — a remarkable destination in Australia and New Zealand. Its official name is Territory of Christmas Island, and today around 1,700 people call this Oceania nation home, spread across roughly 135 km² of territory.
Below is your complete country profile for Christmas Island: key statistics, an introduction to Flying Fish Cove, an interactive map, cultural notes and answers to the questions people most often ask about this corner of Oceania.
Geography of Christmas Island
Christmas Island lies in Australia and New Zealand, in the Oceania region of the world. Measuring roughly 135 square kilometres, it ranks 227th in the world by total area.
Christmas Island has no land borders at all — it is surrounded entirely by water, and this island setting has given it a distinct identity, ecosystem and way of life.
Flying Fish Cove serves as the capital — the centre of government and, for most travellers, the gateway to everything else Christmas Island has to offer.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
People, language and culture
Christmas Island is home to approximately 1,700 residents — the 240th largest population on the planet. Its people are known as Christmas Islanders.
The main language spoken here is English. Learning even a handful of phrases before a visit goes a long way with locals.
Like every country featured on Spin a Country, Christmas Island rewards curiosity — its festivals, food and everyday customs tell a story that statistics alone never can.
Currency, travel and practical facts
The official currency is the Australian dollar (AUD, symbol $). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check current rates before travelling.
The international dialling code for Christmas Island is +61. Websites from the country typically use the .cx internet domain.
If Christmas Island came up on your random spin, take five minutes to memorise its flag, capital (Flying Fish Cove) and population — these are the three facts most often asked in geography quizzes.
Fun facts about Christmas Island
- Christmas Island's flag emoji is 🇨🇽 — its two-letter country code is CX and its three-letter code is CXR.
- Christmas Island covers 135 km², ranking 227th in the world by area.
- With about 1,700 people, Christmas Island holds the 240th spot in the world population ranking.
- Christmas Island is not a full member state of the United Nations.
- Christmas Island is completely surrounded by water, with zero land borders.
Christmas Island — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Christmas Island?
- The capital of Christmas Island is Flying Fish Cove.
- What is the population of Christmas Island?
- Christmas Island has a population of approximately 1,700 people, ranking 240th in the world.
- Where is Christmas Island located?
- Christmas Island is located in Australia and New Zealand, part of the Oceania region.
- What language is spoken in Christmas Island?
- The main language spoken in Christmas Island is English.
- What currency is used in Christmas Island?
- Christmas Island uses the Australian dollar (AUD).
