| Cocos (Keeling) Islands (territory of Australia) |
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Introduction | Top of Page

Background: | The islands were discovered in 1609, but remained uninhabited until the 19th century. Annexed by the UK in 1857, they were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the two inhabited islands is split between the mostly Europeans on West Island and the Malays on Home Island.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Geography | Top of Page

Location: | Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka

Geographic coordinates: | 12 30 S, 96 50 E

Map references: | Southeast Asia

Area: | total: 14 sq km land: 14 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island

Area - comparative: | about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: | 0 km

Coastline: | 2.6 km

Maritime claims: | exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM

Climate: | pleasant, modified by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year; moderate rainfall

Terrain: | flat, low-lying coral atolls

Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources: | fish

Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: | NA sq km

Natural hazards: | cyclones may occur in the early months of the year

Environment - current issues: | fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs

Geography - note: | two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation

Cocos (Keeling) Islands | People | Top of Page

Population: | 633 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: | 0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%

Population growth rate: | -0.21% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: | NA births/1,000 population

Death rate: | NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate: | NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: | NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: | total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Total fertility rate: | NA children born/woman

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA

Nationality: | noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander

Ethnic groups: | Europeans, Cocos Malays

Religions: | Sunni Muslim 57%, Christian 22%, other 21% (1981 est.)

Languages: | English, Malay

Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Government | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Dependency status: | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories

Government type: | NA

Capital: | West Island

Administrative divisions: | none (territory of Australia)

Independence: | none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: | NA

Constitution: | Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955

Legal system: | based upon the laws of Australia and local laws

Suffrage: | NA

Executive branch: | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Administrator (non-resident) William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999) cabinet: NA elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia

Legislative branch: | unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (NA seats)

Judicial branch: | Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court

Political parties and leaders: | none

Political pressure groups and leaders: | none

International organization participation: | none

Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (territory of Australia)

Flag description: | the flag of Australia is used

Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Economy | Top of Page

Economy - overview: | Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia.

GDP: | purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - real growth rate: | NA%

GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Population below poverty line: | NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): | NA%

Labor force: | NA

Labor force - by occupation: | the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others

Budget: | revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries: | copra products and tourism

Industrial production growth rate: | NA%

Electricity - production: | NA kWh

Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Electricity - consumption: | NA kWh

Agriculture - products: | vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Exports: | $NA

Exports - commodities: | copra

Exports - partners: | Australia

Imports: | $NA

Imports - commodities: | foodstuffs

Imports - partners: | Australia

Debt - external: | $NA

Economic aid - recipient: | $NA

Currency: | Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code: | AUD

Exchange rates: | Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996)

Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June

Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Communications | Top of Page

Telephones - main lines in use: | NA (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular: | 0 (1999)

Telephone system: | general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of NA type

Radio broadcast stations: | AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios: | 300 (1992)

Television broadcast stations: | 0 (1997)

Televisions: | NA

Internet country code: | .cc

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 2 (2000)

Internet users: | NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Transportation | Top of Page

Railways: | 0 km

Highways: | total: 15 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (2001)

Waterways: | none

Ports and harbors: | none; lagoon anchorage only

Merchant marine: | none (2000 est.)

Airports: | 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: | total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Military | Top of Page

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of Australia

Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Transnational Issues | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | none