Background Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.

NOTE: The information regarding Christmas Island on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Christmas Island Introduction 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Christmas Island Introduction 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.