2020 Edition

Background

British sea captain William KEELING discovered the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in 1609, and they were named for their coconut trees in 1622. Some maps began referring to them as the Keeling Islands in 1703. In 1825, Scottish trader John CLUNIES-ROSS was trying to get to Christmas Island but was blown off course and landed on Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The next year, a British trader hired CLUNIES-ROSS's brother to bring slaves and a harem of Malay women to create the first permanent settlement on the island. By the 1830s, the Clunies-Ross family had firmly established themselves as the leaders of the islands, and they ruled Cocos (Keeling) Islands in a feudal style until 1978. The UK annexed the islands in 1857 and administered them from Ceylon after 1878 and from Singapore after 1886. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands hosted a cable relaying station and was attacked by the Germans in World War I. The Japanese similarly attacked the islands in World War II. The UK transferred the islands to Australia in 1955, when they were officially named the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and in 1978, Australia bought all the land held by the Clunies-Ross family, ending their control of the islands. In a referendum in 1984, most islanders voted to integrate with Australia, and Western Australian laws have applied on the islands since 1992.

Area

land

14 sq km

total

14 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 24 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Climate

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

Coastline

26 km

Elevation

highest point

South Point on South Island 9 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates

12 30 S, 96 50 E

Geography - note

there are 27 coral islands in the group; apart from North Keeling Island, which lies 30 km north of the main group, the islands form a horseshoe-shaped atoll around a lagoon

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

0% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

100% (2018 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

Population distribution

only Home Island and West Island are populated

Terrain

flat, low-lying coral atolls

Age structure

0-14 years

21.2%

15-64 years

61.5%

65 years and over

17.3% (2021)

Death rate

8.89 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Ethnic groups

Europeans, Cocos Malays

Languages

Languages

Malay (Cocos dialect) 68.8%, English 22.3%, unspecified 8.9%; note - data represent language spoken at home (2016 est.)

major-language sample(s)

Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Malay) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Median age

total

40 years (2021 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Cocos Islander

noun

Cocos Islander(s)

Population

female

292

male

301

total

593 (2021 est.)

Religions

Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 75%, Anglican 3.5%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, none 12.9%, unspecified 6.3% (2016 est.)

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

history

23 November 1955 (Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955)

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 Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of Australia)

Executive branch

cabinet

NA

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sam MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024)

election/appointment process

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

head of government

Administrator Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)

Flag

the flag of Australia is used

Government type

non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia

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

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

October 2025

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council

most recent election date

10/21/2023

number of seats

7 (directly elected)

percentage of women in chamber

16.7%

scope of elections

partial renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

royal anthem, as an Australian territory

lyrics/music

unknown

title

"God Save the King"

National holiday

Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)

Political parties

none

Suffrage

18 years of age

Agricultural products

vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Exchange rates

Currency

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

1.453 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.331 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.442 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.505 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

1.515 (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

ships (2023)

Exports - partners

USA 31%, Singapore 29%, UK 12%, Australia 3%, Brazil 3% (2023)

Imports - commodities

iron structures, special purpose motor vehicles, cars, ships, aluminum structures (2023)

Imports - partners

Australia 87%, USA 3%, Philippines 2%, Sweden 2%, Brazil 1% (2023)

Industries

copra products, tourism

Broadcast media

1 local radio station staffed by community volunteers; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available (2017)

Internet country code

.cc

Internet users

percent of population

13.4% (2021 est.)

Airports

1 (2025)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Environmental issues

limited freshwater resources; illegal fishing