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

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


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

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 14 km²
Land: 14 km²
Comparative: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Comparative 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

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

Elevation

Natural resources: Fish

Land use
Arable land: NA
Permanent crops: NA
Permanent pastures: NA
Forests and woodland: NA
Other: NA

Irrigated land: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population:
Growth rate:

Nationality
Noun: Cocos Islander(s)
Adjective: Cocos Islander

Ethnic groups: West Island:Europeans Home Island:Cocos Malays

Languages: English

Religions:

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate:

Birth rate: NA births/1000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1000 population Infant Mortality Rate:NA deaths/1000 live births

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

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

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: NA years
Male: NA years
Female: NA years

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

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

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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

International organization participation: None

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: The flag of Australia is used

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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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

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity_ NA

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: Growth rate NA

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate

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: total value. NA
Commodities: Copra
Partners: Australia

Imports: total value: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: 1.3477 (January 1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)


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

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

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

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1
15-24 to 2437 m: 1

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: None

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs