Christmas Island Country Summary

Christmas Island is a territory of Australia. As such, we are including the information for Australia below:

FATF Status

Australia is not on the FATF List of Countries that have been identified as having strategic AML deficiencies

Compliance with FATF Recommendations

The last Mutual Evaluation Report relating to the implementation of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing standards in Australia was undertaken in 2024. According to that Evaluation, Australia was deemed Compliant for 18 and Largely Compliant for 12 of the FATF 40 Recommendations. It remains Highly Effective for 1 and Substantially Effective for 4 with regard to the 11 areas of Effectiveness of its AML/CFT Regime.

Christmas Island, as a territory of Australia, benefits from a comprehensive legal framework aimed at combating crime and corruption. While Australia is perceived to have low levels of corruption and a robust law enforcement system, challenges such as human trafficking, drug-related crimes, and cybercrime persist, necessitating ongoing vigilance and resilience from both the government and civil society.

Christmas Island's economy is largely supported by tourism and phosphate extraction, although the latter resource is nearing depletion. The territory benefits from its status as an Australian territory, which provides a stable legal framework and government support; however, the closure of the phosphate mine and the absence of a commercial spaceport have constrained new investment opportunities. Efforts to promote tourism, such as the reopening of the Christmas Island Casino and Resort, alongside potential eco-tourism initiatives, may pave the way for future sustainable development investments, especially given the island's unique biodiversity.