Cocos (Keeling) Islands

 
Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka

Area

Total area: 14 sq km
Land area: 14 sq km
Comparative area: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Note: Includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

2.6 km

Maritime Claims

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm

International Disputes

None

Climate

Pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of the year; moderate rain fall

Terrain

Flat, low-lying coral atolls
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: 5 m

Natural Resources

Fish

Land Use

Arable land: NA
Permanent crops: NA
Meadows and pastures: NA
Forest and woodland: NA
Other: NA

Irrigated Land

Environment

Current issues: there are no natural fresh water resources on the island, groundwater does accumulate in natural underground reservoirs
Natural hazards: cyclones may occur in the early months of the year
International agreements: NA

Note: Two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation

PEOPLE

Population

609 (July 1996 est.)
604 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

15-64 Years

65 Years and Over

Population Growth Rate

0.94% (1996 est.)
0.98% (1995 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

Nationality

Noun: Cocos Islander(s)
Adjective: Cocos Islander

Ethnic Divisions

West Island

Europeans

Home Island

Cocos Malays

Religions

Sunni Muslim57%
Christian22%
Other 21% (1981 est.)

Languages

English

Labor Force

GOVERNMENT

Names

Conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Digraph

Type

Territory of Australia

Capital

West Island

Administrative Divisions

None (territory of Australia)

Independence

None (territory of Australia)

National Holiday

Constitution

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955

Legal System

Based upon the laws of Australia and local laws

Suffrage

Executive Branch

Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
Head of government: Administrator John Bell READ (since NA) was appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the queen and Australia

Legislative Branch

Unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council; President of the Islands Council Ronald GRANT (since NA)

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

Political Parties and Leaders

Member of

None

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.

National Product

GDP NA

National Product Real Growth Rate

National Product Per Capita

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

Budget

Revenues: NA
Expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA

Exports

Commodities:

Copra

Partners:

Australia

Imports

Commodities:

Foodstuffs

Partners:

Australia

External Debt

Industrial Production

Growth rate NA

Electricity

Capacity: 1,000 kW
Production: 2 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 2,980 kWh (1990)

Industries

Copra products

Agriculture

Gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Economic Aid

None

Currency

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Exchange Rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January 1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)

Fiscal Year

1 July - 30 June

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Total: NA km
Paved: NA km
Unpaved: NA km

Ports

None; lagoon anchorage only

Merchant Marine

None

Airports

Total: 1
With paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

NA telephones

Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile communications via satellite with Australia

Radio

Broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 300 (1992 est.)

Television

Broadcast stations: 0
note: intermittent television service via satellite
Televisions: NA

DEFENSE FORCES

Note: Defense is the responsibility of Australia

History
World Atlas

last updated: 25 november 1997

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