1994 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Affiliation

(territory of Australia)

Agriculture

gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Airports

total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1

Area

total area: 14 sq km land area: 14 sq km comparative area: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island

Budget

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

Capital

West Island

Climate

pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of the year; moderate rain fall

Coastline

2.6 km

Constitution

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955

Currency

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Digraph

CK

Diplomatic representation in US

none (territory of Australia)

Economic aid

none

Electricity

capacity: 1,000 kW production: 2 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,980 kWh (1990)

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Exchange rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Administrator B. CUNNINGHAM (since NA) cabinet: Islands Council; Chairman of the Islands Council Haji WAHIN bin Bynie (since NA)

Exports

$NA commodities: copra partners: Australia

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Flag

the flag of Australia is used

Highways

total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA

Home Island

Cocos Malays

Imports

$NA commodities: foodstuffs partners: Australia

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

copra products

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Labor force

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Languages

English

Legal system

based upon the laws of Australia and local laws

Legislative branch

unicameral Islands Council

Literacy

total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Location

Southeastern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, 1,070 km southwest of Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Member of

none

Names

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

National holiday

NA

National product

GDP $NA

National product per capita

$NA

National product real growth rate

NA%

Nationality

noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander

Natural resources

fish

Note

two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation

defense is the responsibility of Australia

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.

Political parties and leaders

NA

Population

598 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

0.98% (1994 est.)

Ports

none; lagoon anchorage only

Religions

Sunni Muslims

Suffrage

NA

Telecommunications

250 radios (1985); linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile communications via satellite with Australia; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV

Terrain

flat, low-lying coral atolls

Type

territory of Australia

US diplomatic representation

none (territory of Australia)

West Island

Europeans