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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.

[edit] Geography

Location 

Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south 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
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
water: 0 sq km
land: 14 sq km

Area - comparative 

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

Land boundaries 

0 km

Coastline 

26 km

Maritime claims 

exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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% (1998 est.)

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

[edit] People

Population 

632 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure 

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

Population growth rate 

-0.22% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate 

NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate 

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate 

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth 

total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years

Total fertility rate 

NA children born/woman

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

[edit] Government

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 

NA

Constitution 

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955

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
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) William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)
cabinet: NA

Legislative branch 

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

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

[edit] Economy

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 - real growth rate 

NA%

GDP - per capita 

purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - composition by sector 

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

Population below poverty line 

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 

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, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries 

copra products and tourism

Industrial production growth rate 

NA%

Electricity - production 

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source 

fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
other: NA%
nuclear: NA%

Electricity - consumption 

NA kWh

Agriculture - products 

vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Exports 

$NA

Exports - commodities 

copra

Exports - partners 

Australia

Imports 

$NA

Imports - commodities 

foodstuffs

Imports - partners 

Australia

Debt - external 

$NA

Economic aid - recipient 

$NA

Currency 

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code 

AUD

Exchange rates 

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (January 2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997)

Fiscal year 

1 July - 30 June

[edit] Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

287 (1992)

Telephones - mobile cellular 

NA

Telephone system 

general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication system
domestic: NA
international: telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of NA type (2002)

Radio broadcast stations 

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)

Radios 

300 (1992)

Television broadcast stations 

NA

Televisions 

NA

Internet country code 

.cc

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

2 (2000)

Internet users 

NA

[edit] Transportation

Railways 

0 km

Highways 

total: 15 km (2001)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Waterways 

none

Ports and harbors 

none; lagoon anchorage only

Merchant marine 

none (2002 est.)

Airports 

1 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 1 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

[edit] Military

Military - note 

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

[edit] Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

none