2015 Edition

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. From the 1820s to 1978, members of the CLUNIE-ROSS family controlled the islands and the copra produced from local coconuts. Annexed by the UK in 1857, the Cocos Islands were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955. Apart from North Keeling Island, which lies 30 kilometers north of the main group, the islands form a horseshoe-shaped atoll surrounding a lagoon. North Keeling Island was declared a national park in 1995 and is administered by Parks Australia. The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.

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

Climate

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

Coastline

26 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed location 5 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

freshwater resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs

Geographic coordinates

12 30 S, 96 50 E

Geography - note

islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation; site of a World War I naval battle in November 1914 between the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney and the German raider SMS Emden; after being heavily damaged in the engagement, the Emden was beached by her captain on North Keeling Island

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%

agricultural land

0%

forest

0%

other

100% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

cyclone season is October to April

Natural resources

fish

Terrain

flat, low-lying coral atolls

Ethnic groups

Europeans, Cocos Malays

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

NA

male

NA

total

NA

Languages

Malay (Cocos dialect), English

Life expectancy at birth

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Nationality

adjective

Cocos Islander

noun

Cocos Islander(s)

Population

596 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

0% (2014 est.)

Religions

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

Total fertility rate

NA

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Capital

geographic coordinates

12 10 S, 96 50 E

name

West Island

time difference

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

Citizenship

see Australia

Constitution

23 November 1955 (Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955); amended many times, last in 2010 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

conventional short form

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

etymology

the name refers to the abundant coconut trees on the islands and to English Captain William KEELING, the first European to sight the islands in 1609

Dependency status

non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of Australia)

Executive branch

cabinet

NA

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Australian prime minister; administrator appointed by for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia

head of government

Administrator (nonresident) Barry HAASE (since 6 October 2014)

Flag description

the flag of Australia is used

Government type

NA

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

International organization participation

none

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

under the terms of the Territorial Law Reform Act 1992, Western Australia provides court services as needed for the island including the Supreme Court and subordinate courts (District Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Children's Court, and Coroners' Court)

Legal system

common law based on the Australian model

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms with a portion of the membership renewed every 2 years)

elections

held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held in October 2011 (next to be held in October 2013)

National anthem

note

as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)

National holiday

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Political parties and leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

The Cocos Islands Youth Support Centre

Suffrage

18 years of age

Agriculture - products

vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Budget

expenditures

$NA

revenues

$NA

Economy - overview

Coconuts, grown throughout the islands, 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.

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

1.1094 (2014)

1.0358 (2013)

0.97 (2012)

0.9695 (2011)

1.0902 (2010)

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

copra

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2003)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$NA

Imports

$NA

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs

Industries

copra products, tourism

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

note

the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism is the other main source of employment

Unemployment rate

60% (2000 est.)

Broadcast media

1 local radio station staffed by community volunteers; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available (2009)

Internet country code

.cc

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004)

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

telephone service is part of the Australian network; an operational local mobile-cellular network available; wireless Internet connectivity available

international

country code - 61; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat) (2001)

Television broadcast stations

4 (2007)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Port Refuge

Roadways

paved

10 km

total

22 km

unpaved

12 km (2007)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory has a five-person police force

Disputes - international

none