| Background: |
The islands were
discovered in 1609, but 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 is split between the mostly Europeans on
West Island and the Malays on Home Island. |
| Location: |
Southeastern
Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of
Indonesia, about one-half of the way 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 |
| Maritime
claims: |
exclusive
fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 3 NM |
| Climate: |
pleasant,
modified by the southeast trade winds for about nine months
of the year; moderate rainfall |
| Terrain: |
flat, low-lying
coral atolls |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (1993 est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
cyclones may
occur in the early months of the year |
| Environment
- current issues: |
fresh water
resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural
underground reservoirs |
| Geography
- note: |
two coral atolls
thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation |
| Population: |
633 (July 2001
est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA% |
| Population
growth rate: |
-0.21% (2001
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 |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Europeans, Cocos
Malays |
| Religions: |
Sunni Muslim 57%,
Christian 22%, other 21% (1981 est.) |
| Languages: |
English, Malay |
| 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 the Environment, Sport, and Territories |
| Administrative
divisions: |
none (territory
of Australia) |
| Independence: |
none (territory
of Australia) |
| Constitution: |
Cocos (Keeling)
Islands Act of 1955 |
| Legal
system: |
based upon the
laws of Australia and local laws |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of
state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator
(non-resident) William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February
1999)
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 (NA 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 |
| Economy
- overview: |
Grown throughout
the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Copra and
fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local
gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but
additional food and most other necessities must be imported
from Australia. |
| 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 - by occupation: |
the Cocos Islands
Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers,
stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others |
| 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%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
NA kWh |
| Agriculture
- products: |
vegetables,
bananas, pawpaws, coconuts |
| Exports
- commodities: |
copra |
| Exports
- partners: |
Australia |
| Imports
- commodities: |
foodstuffs |
| Imports
- partners: |
Australia |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$NA |
| Currency: |
Australian dollar
(AUD) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Australian
dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173
(2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773
(1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
1 July - 30 June |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
NA (1999) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
0 (1999) |
| Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: telephone, telex, and facsimile
communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1
satellite earth station of NA type |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 1, FM 0,
shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
0 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.cc |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
2 (2000) |
| Highways: |
total:
15 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (2001) |
| Ports
and harbors: |
none; lagoon
anchorage only |
| Merchant
marine: |
none (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Military
- note: |
defense is the
responsibility of Australia |
| Disputes
- international: |
none |
|
