Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
Introduction	Back To Top
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. The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.
Geography	Back To Top
Land boundaries: 0 km Climate: tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year Map references: Southeast Asia Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 96 50 E Natural resources: fish Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls 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 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 Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka Coastline: 26 km Area - comparative: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Irrigated land: NA Environment - current issues: fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Natural hazards: cyclone season is October to April Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
People	Back To Top
Total fertility rate: NA (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.) Literacy: NA Net migration rate: NA (2008 est.) Ethnic groups: Europeans, Cocos Malays Population: 596 (July 2007 est.) Population growth rate: 0% (2008 est.) Languages: Malay (Cocos dialect), English Death rate: NA (2008 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Birth rate: NA (2008 est.) Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.) Nationality: noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander
Government	Back To Top
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia) National holiday: Australia Day, 26 January (1788) Suffrage: NA Government type: NA Political pressure groups and leaders: The Cocos Islands Youth Support Centre Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia) Dependency status: non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department International organization participation: none Legislative branch: unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats) elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held in May 2007 (next to be held in May 2009) Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws Flag description: the flag of Australia is used Independence: none (territory of Australia) Country name (Goverment): conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Political parties and leaders: none Capital: name: West Island geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 50 E time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1955) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992 Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006) cabinet: NA elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia) Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court
Economy	Back To Top
Unemployment rate: 60% (2000 est.) GDP (purchasing power parity): $NA Exchange rates: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004) Labor force: NA Exports: $NA Currency (code): Australian dollar (AUD) 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. Imports - commodities: foodstuffs Industries: copra products and tourism Imports: $NA Labor force - by occupation: note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others Currency code: AUD Exports - commodities: copra Economic aid - recipient: $NA Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Communications	Back To Top
Internet users: NA Telephones - main lines in use: 287 (1992) Televisions: NA Internet country code: .cc Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004) Radios: 300 (1992) Television broadcast stations: 4 (2007) Telephone system: general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication system; a local mobile-cellular network is in operation domestic: NA international: country code - 61; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat) (2001) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Transportation	Back To Top
Ports and terminals: Port Refuge Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) Roadways: total: 22 km paved: 10 km unpaved: 12 km (2006) Airports: 1 (2007)
Military	Back To Top
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory has a five-person police force
Transnational Issues	Back To Top
Disputes - international: none

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