COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS
(territory of Australia)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 14 km2; land area: 14 km2; main islands are West Island
and Home Island
Comparative area: about 24 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 42.6 km
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
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%
Environment: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms
and other vegetation
Note: located 1,070 km southwest of Sumatra (Indonesia) in the
Indian Ocean about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka
PEOPLE
Population: 684 (July 1991), growth rate NEGL% (1991)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991)
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991)
Nationality: noun--Cocos Islander(s); adjective--Cocos Islander(s)
Ethnic divisions: mostly Europeans on West Island and Cocos Malays
on Home Island
Religion: almost all Sunni Muslims
Language: English
Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
Labor force: NA
Organized labor: none
GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Type: territory of Australia
Capital: West Island
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
National holiday: NA
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general of Australia,
administrator, chairman of the Islands Council
Legislative branch: unicameral Islands Council
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
Head of Government--Administrator D. LAWRIE (since NA 1989);
Chairman of the Islands Council Parson Bin YAPAT (since NA)
Suffrage: NA
Elections: NA
Member of: none
Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: 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: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment: NA
Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital
expenditures of $NA
Exports: $NA;
commodities--copra;
partners--Australia
Imports: $NA;
commodities--foodstuffs;
partners--Australia
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 1,000 kW capacity; 2 million kWh produced, 2,980 kWh
per capita (1990)
Industries: copra products
Agriculture: gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Economic aid: none
Currency: Australian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Australian dollar
($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2834 (January
1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905
(1986), 1.4269 (1985)
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
COMMUNICATIONS
Ports: none; lagoon anchorage only
Airports: 1 airfield with permanent-surface runway, 1,220-2,439 m;
airport on West Island is a link in service between Australia and South
Africa
Telecommunications: 250 radios (1985); linked by telephone,
telex, and facsimile communications via satellite with Australia;
stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV
DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia