2006 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Airports

1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Area

land

14 sq km

note

includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island

total

14 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Background

There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William KEELING discovered the islands in 1609, but they 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 generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island. Geography Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Birth rate

NA

Budget

expenditures

$NA

revenues

$NA

Capital

geographic coordinates

12 10 S, 96 55 E

name

West Island

time difference

UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year

Coastline

26 km

Constitution

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1955) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992

Country name

conventional long form

Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

conventional short form

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Currency (code)

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code

AUD

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

Dependency status

non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of Australia)

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia. There is a small tourist industry.

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

NA

hydro

NA

nuclear

NA

other

NA

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed location 5 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 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 - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001)

Executive branch

cabinet

NA

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia

head of government

Administrator (nonresident) Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

copra

Exports - partners

Australia (2004)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Flag description

the flag of Australia is used Economy Cocos (Keeling) Islands

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$NA

Geographic coordinates

12 30 S, 96 50 E

Geography - note

islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation People Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Government type

NA

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Imports

$NA

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Australia (2004)

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

Industries

copra products and tourism

Infant mortality rate

female

NA

male

NA

total

NA

International organization participation

none

Internet country code

.cc

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

NA Transportation Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Irrigated land

NA

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

note

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%

other

100% (2005)

permanent crops

0%

Languages

Malay (Cocos dialect), English

Legal system

based upon the laws of Australia and local laws

Legislative branch

unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)

elections

held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held in May 2005 (next to be held in May 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Literacy

NA Government Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Location

Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory has a five-person police force Transnational Issues Cocos (Keeling) Islands

National holiday

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Nationality

adjective

Cocos Islander

noun

Cocos Islander(s)

Natural hazards

cyclone season is October to April

Natural resources

fish

Net migration rate

NA

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Population

574 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

0% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Port Refuge Military Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios

300 (1992)

Religions

Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)

Roadways

paved

10 km

total

22 km

unpaved

12 km (2006)

Suffrage

NA

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

connected within Australia's telecommunication system

international

country code - 61; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 INTELSAT satellite earth station

Telephones - main lines in use

287 (1992)

Telephones - mobile cellular

note - analog cellular service available

Television broadcast stations

NA

Televisions

NA

Terrain

flat, low-lying coral atolls

Total fertility rate

NA

Unemployment rate

60% (2000 est.)