2013 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2013 Archive (HTML)
Introduction
Background
Scattered over more than three-quarters of a million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs. The Coral Sea Islands Act 1969 was amended in 1997 to extend the boundaries of the Coral Sea Islands Territory around Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs.
Geography
Area
- less than 3 sq km less than 3 sq km 0 sq km includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 780,000 sq km with the Willis Islets the most important
- total
- less than 3 sq km
- water
- 0 sq km
Area - comparative
NA
Climate
tropical
Coastline
3,095 km
Elevation extremes
- Pacific Ocean 0 m unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m
- highest point
- unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m
- lowest point
- Pacific Ocean 0 m
Environment - current issues
no permanent freshwater resources
Geographic coordinates
18 00 S, 152 00 E
Geography - note
important nesting area for birds and turtles
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2011)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- 0% 0% 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2011)
- arable land
- 0%
- other
- 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2011)
- permanent crops
- 0%
Location
Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
- 3 nm 200 nm
- exclusive fishing zone
- 200 nm
- territorial sea
- 3 nm
Natural hazards
occasional tropical cyclones
Natural resources
NEGL
Terrain
sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
People and Society
Population
no indigenous inhabitants there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.)
Government
Country name
- Coral Sea Islands Territory Coral Sea Islands
- conventional long form
- Coral Sea Islands Territory
- conventional short form
- Coral Sea Islands
Dependency status
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)
Flag description
the flag of Australia is used
Legal system
the common law legal system of Australia, where applicable, applies
Economy
Economy - overview
no economic activity
Communications
Communications - note
automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relay data to the mainland
Transportation
Ports and terminals
none; offshore anchorage only
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none