WOG
This might come as a bit of a surprise to you, but Christams Isalnd has a major contruction underway for new immigration detention centre, has an old one with some people in it and looked after by private contactors; has a major government presence; including airport support; school; hospital; and regular visists from the military.
As of 2006, the estimated population is 1,493. (The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1,508 as of the 2001 Census.)
The ethnic composition is 70%
Chinese, 20%
European and 10%
Malay. Religions practised on Christmas Island include
Buddhism 75%,
Christianity 12%,
Islam 7% and others 4%.
English is the official language, but
Chinese and
Malay are also spoken.
Mining is no longer the big deal it was.