Christmas Island

An assessment of population growth drivers in Christmas Island reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

The estimated population of Christmas Island as of February 2026 is around 1,865 people. This reflects a growth of 173 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 1,692. AreaSearch validated new addresses and examined the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) to estimate this resident population. The current density ratio is 13.7 persons per square kilometer. Christmas Island's growth rate of 10.2% since the 2021 Census surpassed both the state average of 4.4% and the SA4 region, indicating it as a growth leader in the area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections and state government data for estimating future population changes. According to these methods, projections indicate no overall population growth by 2041 for Christmas Island.

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Christmas Island has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 0thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. As of AreaSearch's recent assessment on Christmas Island, there is minimal ongoing project activity in the vicinity.

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AreaSearch assessment indicates Christmas Island faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Christmas Island has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 0.0%, indicating high employment stability over the past year, as per AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. As of September 2025, 0 residents are in work.

According to Census responses, only 2.8% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries among residents include public administration & safety, mining, and construction. Public administration & safety shows particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, accommodation & food has limited presence with 4.3% employment compared to the regional average of 12.0%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population count against local population. Employment trend data is currently being compiled for Christmas Island. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Christmas Island over five and ten-year periods, with national employment forecast to expand by 6.6% and 13.7%, respectively. Applying these projections to Christmas Island's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by approximately 5.0% over five years and 10.9% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on 2023-06-15 shows Christmas Island had a median taxpayer income of $0 and an average income of $0 for the financial year 2023. This is below the national averages of $63,573 and $68,723 respectively. The suburb's individual earnings reached the 92nd percentile nationally at $1,233 weekly. In Christmas Island, 38.3% of residents (714 people) fell into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket. This aligns with the broader area where this cohort represents 32.2%. High weekly earnings exceeding $3,000 were achieved by 30.1% of households, indicating economic strength and elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retained 93.8% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power.

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The educational profile of Christmas Island exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Christmas Island's educational qualifications trail Australian benchmarks, with 21.2% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to Australia's 30.4%. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 47.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (36.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 44.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 19.2% in primary, 13.0% in secondary, and 2.7% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Christmas Island's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Christmas Island's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks, according to AreaSearch's assessment in March 2021. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be standard, with common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts. Private health cover was extremely low at approximately 0%, compared to the national average of 53.8%.

The most prevalent medical conditions were asthma (6.3%) and diabetes (4.7%), while 80.7% of residents reported no medical ailments, higher than the national average of 75.7%. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. There are 0 residents aged 65 and over (0%). Health outcomes among seniors rank high nationally.

Christmas Island is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Christmas Island has a population where 51.7% were born overseas, with 60.5% speaking languages other than English at home. Islam is the predominant religion, accounting for 30.4%. Buddhism's presence is notable at 21.0%, higher than the national average of 7.1%.

In terms of ancestry, 'Other' tops at 26.1%, followed by Chinese at 24.0% (higher than the regional average of 7.6%), and Australian at 18.4%. Some ethnic groups show significant differences: South African at 0.7% (regional average is 0.3%), Hungarian at 0.3% (vs regional 0.1%), and Filipino at 1.7% (vs regional 1.3%).

Christmas Island's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Christmas Island's median age is 41 years, which is lower than the national average of 43 but higher than the average of 38. The age cohorts on Christmas Island generally reflect those seen across Australia. According to data from the 2021 Census, demographic aging is evident with the median age increasing from 38 to 41 years. Significant shifts include a decline in the 25 to 34 cohort from 18.9% to 0%, and a decrease in the 35 to 44 group from 16.1% to 0%. Population projections for 2032 suggest substantial demographic changes on Christmas Island. The 35 to 44 age group is expected to show strong growth, with an increase of 306 residents to reach a total of 306. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow more modestly, with an addition of 11 residents.