2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
none (territory of Australia)
Age structure
0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%
Agriculture - products
vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Airports
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) Cocos (Keeling) Islands Military
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
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
Birth rate
NA births/1,000 population
Budget
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Capital
West Island
Climate
pleasant, modified by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year; moderate rainfall
Coastline
2.6 km
Constitution
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Country name
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Currency
Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code
AUD
Death rate
NA deaths/1,000 population
Debt - external
$NA
Dependency status
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of Australia)
Disputes - international
none
Economic aid - recipient
$NA
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.
Electricity - consumption
NA kWh
Electricity - production
NA kWh
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Environment - current issues
fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
Ethnic groups
Europeans, Cocos Malays
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)
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
Exports
$NA
Exports - commodities
copra
Exports - partners
Australia
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June Cocos (Keeling) Islands Communications
Flag description
the flag of Australia is used Cocos (Keeling) Islands Economy
GDP
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate
NA%
Geographic coordinates
12 30 S, 96 50 E
Geography - note
two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation Cocos (Keeling) Islands People
Government type
NA
Highways
total: 15 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (2001)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$NA
Imports - commodities
foodstuffs
Imports - partners
Australia
Independence
none (territory of Australia)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
copra products and tourism
Infant mortality rate
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
International organization participation
none
Internet country code
.cc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2000)
Internet users
NA Cocos (Keeling) Islands Transportation
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force
NA
Labor force - by occupation
the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.)
Languages
English, Malay Cocos (Keeling) Islands Government
Legal system
based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Legislative branch
unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (NA seats)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Location
Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM
Merchant marine
none (2000 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Australia Cocos (Keeling) Islands Transnational Issues
National holiday
NA
Nationality
noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander
Natural hazards
cyclones may occur in the early months of the year
Natural resources
fish
Net migration rate
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
Population
633 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Population growth rate
-0.21% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors
none; lagoon anchorage only
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
300 (1992)
Railways
0 km
Religions
Sunni Muslim 57%, Christian 22%, other 21% (1981 est.)
Suffrage
NA
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
Telephones - main lines in use
NA (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular
0 (1999)
Television broadcast stations
0 (1997)
Televisions
NA
Terrain
flat, low-lying coral atolls
Total fertility rate
NA children born/woman
Waterways
none