Map of Cocos Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

top of page


Background: A possession of the UK since 1857 the islands were transferred to Australia in 1955.


top of page


Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 42.6 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
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

Natural resources: fish

Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: located 1,070 km southwest of Sumatra (Indonesia) in the Indian Ocean about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka


top of page


Population: 670 (July 1990), growth rate 2.1% (1990)

Nationality: noun--Cocos Islander(s; adjective--Cocos Islander(s)

Ethnic groups: mostly Europeans on West Island and Cocos Malays on Home Island

Languages: English

Religions: NA

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: NA births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: NA deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: NA migrants/1000 population (1990)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1990)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: NA%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Government type: territory of Australia

Capital: West Island

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: NA

Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955

Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: NA

Executive branch: 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)

Legislative branch: unicameral Islands Council

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (territory of Australia)

Flag description: the flag of Australia is used

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


top of page


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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Industries: copra products

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: NA

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $NA
Commodities: copra
Partners: Australia

Imports: $NA
Commodities: foodstuffs
Partners: Australia

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2784 (January 1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985)


top of page


Electricity
Capacity: NA kW capacity; NA million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1 airfield with permanent-surface runway, 2,440-3,659 m; airport on West Island is a link in service between Australia and South Africa

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs