Cocos (Keeling) Islands

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Introduction

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 CLUNIES-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. Apart from North Keeling Island, which lies 30 kilometers north of the main group, the islands form a horseshoe-shaped atoll surrounding a lagoon. North Keeling Island was declared a national park in 1995 and is administered by Parks Australia. 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

Location

Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and 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
country comparison to the world: 241

Area - comparative

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

26 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200nm

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

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: South Point on South Island 9 m

Natural resources

fish

Land use

agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
arable land: 0% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
forest: 0% (2011 est.)
other: 100% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

NA

Population distribution

only Home Island and West Island are populated

Natural hazards

cyclone season is October to April

Environment - current issues

freshwater resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs; illegal fishing a concern

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

People and Society

Population

596 (July 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 237

Nationality

noun: Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander

Ethnic groups

Europeans, Cocos Malays

Languages

English 22.3%, Malay (Cocos dialect) 68.8%, unspecified 8.9% (2016 est.)
note: data represent language spoken at home

Religions

Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 75%, Anglican 3.5%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, none 12.9%, unspecified 6.3% (2016 est.)

Population growth rate

0% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193

Population distribution

only Home Island and West Island are populated

Infant mortality rate

total: NA (2018)
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA (2017 est.)
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

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
etymology: the name refers to the abundant coconut trees on the islands and to English Captain William KEELING, the first European to sight the islands in 1609

Dependency status

non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport

Government type

non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia

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)

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

National holiday

Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)

Constitution

history: 23 November 1955 (Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955)
amendments: amended many times, last in 2016 (2017)

Legal system

common law based on the Australian model

Citizenship

see Australia

Suffrage

18 years of age

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014)
head of government: Administrator Natasha GRIGGS (since 5 October 2018)
cabinet: NA
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Australian prime minister; administrator appointed by the governor general for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms with half the membership renewed every 2 years)
elections: last held in October 2017 (next to be held on 31 October 2019)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 5, women 2, percent of women 28.6%

Judicial branch

under the terms of the Territorial Law Reform Act 1992, Western Australia provides court services as needed for the island including the Supreme Court and subordinate courts (District Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Children's Court, and Coroners' Court)

Political parties 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

National anthem

note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)

Economy

Economy - overview

Coconuts, grown throughout the islands, 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

1% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 183

Agriculture - products

vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Industries

copra products, tourism

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism is the other main source of employment

Unemployment rate

0.1% (2011)
60% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1

Budget

revenues: NA
expenditures: NA

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Exports

NA

Exports - commodities

copra

Imports

NA

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs

Exchange rates

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.311 (2017 est.)
1.3442 (2016 est.)
1.3442 (2015)
1.3291 (2014)
1.1094 (2013)

Communications

Telephone system

general assessment: telephone service is part of the Australian network; an operational local mobile-cellular network available; wireless Internet connectivity available
domestic: local area code - 08
international: international code - 61 8; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat)

Broadcast media

1 local radio station staffed by community volunteers; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available (2017)

Internet country code

.cc

Military and Security

Military - note

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

Transportation

Airports

1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 218

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 (2019)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

Roadways

total: 22 km (2007)
paved: 10 km (2007)
unpaved: 12 km (2007)
country comparison to the world: 213

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Port Refuge

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

none

Flag of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

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