Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

12 30 S, 96 50 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

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

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

26 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

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

Terrain:

flat, low-lying coral atolls

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

cyclone season is October to April

Environment - current issues:

fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs

Geography - note:

islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation

People

   Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Population:

628 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

0% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

NA

Death rate:

NA

Net migration rate:

NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Total fertility rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander

Ethnic groups:

Europeans, Cocos Malays

Religions:

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

Languages:

Malay (Cocos dialect), English

Government

   Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Dependency status:

territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services

Government type:

NA

Capital:

West Island

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of Australia)

Independence :

none (territory of Australia)

National holiday:

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Constitution:

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1953)

Legal system:

based upon the laws of Australia and local laws

Suffrage:

NA

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003)
cabinet: NA
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia

Legislative branch:

unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held NA

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

none

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

the flag of Australia is used

Economy

   Cocos (Keeling) Islands

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

NA

GDP (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

NA

Labor force - by occupation:

the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others

Unemployment rate:

60% (2000 est.)

Budget:

revenues: NA
expenditures: NA

Agriculture - products:

vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Industries:

copra products and tourism

Exports:

NA

Exports - partners:

Australia (2004)

Imports:

NA

Imports - partners:

Australia (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.38 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

   Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

287 (1992)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

note - analog cellular service available

Telephone system:

general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 61-891; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 INTELSAT satellite earth station (2005)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004)

Television broadcast stations:

NA

Internet country code:

.cc

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

   Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2005 est.)

Roadways:

total: 15 km (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Port Refuge

Military

   Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Military - note:

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

Transnational Issues

   Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Disputes - international:

none