1990 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1990 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
pleasant, modified by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year; moderate rainfall
Coastline
42.6 km
Comparative area
about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Contiguous zone
12 nm;
Continental shelf
200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
Environment
two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm;
Land boundaries
none
Land use
0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other
Natural resources
fish
Note
located 1,070 km southwest of Sumatra (Indonesia) in the Indian Ocean about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka
Terrain
flat, low-lying coral atolls
Territorial sea
3 nm
Total area
14 km2; land area: 14 km2; main islands are West Island and Home Island
People and Society
Birth rate
NA births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate
NA deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Ethnic divisions
mostly Europeans on West Island and Cocos Malays on Home Island
Infant mortality rate
NA deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Labor force
NA
Language
English
Life expectancy at birth
NA years male, NA years female (1990)
Literacy
NA%
Nationality
noun--Cocos Islander(s); adjective--Cocos Islander(s)
Net migration rate
NA migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Organized labor
none
Population
670 (July 1990), growth rate 2.1% (1990)
Religion
NA
Total fertility rate
NA children born/woman (1990)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (territory of Australia)
Capital
West Island
Constitution
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Diplomatic representation
none (territory of Australia)
Elections
NA
Executive branch
British monarch, governor general of Australia, administrator, chairman of the Islands Council
Flag
the flag of Australia is used
Independence
none (territory of Australia)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Leaders
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Head of Government--Administrator D. LAWRIE (since NA 1989); Chairman of the Islands Council Parson Bin YAPAT (since NA)
Legal system
based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Legislative branch
unicameral Islands Council
Long-form name
Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
National holiday
NA
Suffrage
NA
Type
territory of Australia
Economy
Agriculture
gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Aid
none
Budget
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Currency
Australian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Electricity
NA kW capacity; NA million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita
Exchange rates
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2784 (January 1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985)
Exports
$NA; commodities--copra; partners--Australia
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
1 July-30 June
GNP
$NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%
Imports
$NA; commodities--foodstuffs; partners--Australia
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
copra products
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
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.
Unemployment
NA
Communications
Airports
1 airfield with permanent-surface runway, 2,440-3,659 m; airport on West Island is a link in service between Australia and South Africa
Ports
none; lagoon anchorage only
Telecommunications
250 radios (1985); linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile communications via satellite with Australia; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of Australia