Cocos (Keeling) Islands (2001) | Cocos (Keeling) Islands (2001) | |
Administrative divisions | none (territory of Australia) | none (territory of Australia) |
Age structure | 0-14 years:
NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% |
0-14 years:
NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% |
Agriculture - products | vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts | vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts |
Airports | 1 (2000 est.) | 1 (2000 est.) |
Airports - with paved runways | total:
1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
total:
1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
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 |
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 | about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
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. | 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. |
Birth rate | NA births/1,000 population | NA births/1,000 population |
Budget | revenues:
$NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
revenues:
$NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
Capital | West Island | West Island |
Climate | pleasant, modified by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year; moderate rainfall | pleasant, modified by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year; moderate rainfall |
Coastline | 2.6 km | 2.6 km |
Constitution | Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 | Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 |
Country name | conventional long form:
Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
conventional long form:
Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
Currency | Australian dollar (AUD) | Australian dollar (AUD) |
Death rate | NA deaths/1,000 population | NA deaths/1,000 population |
Debt - external | $NA | $NA |
Dependency status | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories |
Diplomatic representation from the US | none (territory of Australia) | none (territory of Australia) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | none (territory of Australia) | none (territory of Australia) |
Disputes - international | none | none |
Economic aid - recipient | $NA | $NA |
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. | 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. |
Electricity - consumption | NA kWh | NA kWh |
Electricity - production | NA kWh | NA kWh |
Electricity - production by source | fossil fuel:
NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% |
fossil fuel:
NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% |
Elevation extremes | lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m |
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m |
Environment - current issues | fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs | fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs |
Ethnic groups | Europeans, Cocos Malays | Europeans, Cocos Malays |
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) | Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.7995 (January 2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996) |
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 |
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 |
Exports | $NA | $NA |
Exports - commodities | copra | copra |
Exports - partners | Australia | Australia |
Fiscal year | 1 July - 30 June | 1 July - 30 June |
Flag description | the flag of Australia is used | the flag of Australia is used |
GDP | purchasing power parity - $NA | purchasing power parity - $NA |
GDP - composition by sector | agriculture:
NA% industry: NA% services: NA% |
agriculture:
NA% industry: NA% services: NA% |
GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $NA | purchasing power parity - $NA |
GDP - real growth rate | NA% | NA% |
Geographic coordinates | 12 30 S, 96 50 E | 12 30 S, 96 50 E |
Geography - note | two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation | two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation |
Highways | total:
15 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (2001) |
total:
15 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (2001) |
Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%:
NA% highest 10%: NA% |
lowest 10%:
NA% highest 10%: NA% |
Imports | $NA | $NA |
Imports - commodities | foodstuffs | foodstuffs |
Imports - partners | Australia | Australia |
Independence | none (territory of Australia) | none (territory of Australia) |
Industrial production growth rate | NA% | NA% |
Industries | copra products and tourism | copra products and tourism |
Infant mortality rate | NA deaths/1,000 live births | NA deaths/1,000 live births |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | NA% | NA% |
International organization participation | none | none |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | 2 (2000) | 2 (2000) |
Irrigated land | NA sq km | NA sq km |
Judicial branch | Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court | Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court |
Labor force | NA | NA |
Labor force - by occupation | the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others | the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.) |
arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.) |
Languages | English, Malay | English, Malay |
Legal system | based upon the laws of Australia and local laws | based upon the laws of Australia and local laws |
Legislative branch | unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (NA seats) | unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (NA seats) |
Life expectancy at birth | total population:
NA years male: NA years female: NA years |
total population:
NA years male: NA years female: NA years |
Location | Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka | Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka |
Map references | Southeast Asia | Southeast Asia |
Maritime claims | exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM |
exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM |
Merchant marine | none (2000 est.) | none (2000 est.) |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of Australia | defense is the responsibility of Australia |
National holiday | NA | NA |
Nationality | noun:
Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander |
noun:
Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander |
Natural hazards | cyclones may occur in the early months of the year | cyclones may occur in the early months of the year |
Natural resources | fish | fish |
Net migration rate | NA migrant(s)/1,000 population | NA migrant(s)/1,000 population |
Political parties and leaders | none | none |
Political pressure groups and leaders | none | none |
Population | 633 (July 2001 est.) | 633 (July 2001 est.) |
Population below poverty line | NA% | NA% |
Population growth rate | -0.21% (2001 est.) | -0.21% (2001 est.) |
Ports and harbors | none; lagoon anchorage only | none; lagoon anchorage only |
Radio broadcast stations | AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) | AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) |
Radios | 300 (1992) | 300 (1992) |
Railways | 0 km | 0 km |
Religions | Sunni Muslim 57%, Christian 22%, other 21% (1981 est.) | Sunni Muslim 57%, Christian 22%, other 21% (1981 est.) |
Suffrage | NA | NA |
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 |
general assessment:
NA domestic: NA international: telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of NA type |
Telephones - main lines in use | NA (1999) | NA (1999) |
Telephones - mobile cellular | 0 (1999) | 0 (1999) |
Television broadcast stations | 0 (1997) | 0 (1997) |
Terrain | flat, low-lying coral atolls | flat, low-lying coral atolls |
Total fertility rate | NA children born/woman | NA children born/woman |
Waterways | none | none |