Statistical information Cocos Islands 2023
Cocos Islands in the World
Cocos Islands - Introduction 2023
top of pageBackground:
British captain William KEELING discovered Cocos (Keeling) Islands in 1609, and they were named the Cocos Islands in 1622 for their coconut trees. Some maps began referring to them as the Keeling Islands in 1703. In 1825, Scottish trader John CLUNIES-ROSS was trying to get to Christmas Island but was blown off-course and landed on Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The next year, a British trader hired John’s brother to bring slaves and a harem of Malay women to create the first permanent settlement on the island. By the 1830s, the Clunies-Ross family had firmly established themselves as the leaders of the islands and they ruled Cocos (Keeling) Islands in a feudal style until 1978.
The UK annexed the islands in 1857 and administered them from Ceylon after 1878 and from Singapore after 1886. Cocos (Keeling) Islands hosted a cable relaying station and was attacked by the Germans in World War I. The Japanese similarly attacked the islands in World War II. The UK transferred the islands to Australia in 1955, which officially named the islands the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and in 1978, Australia bought all the land held by the Clunies-Ross family, ending their control of the islands’ governance. In a referendum in 1984, most islanders voted to integrate with Australia, and Western Australian laws have applied on the islands since 1992.
The UK annexed the islands in 1857 and administered them from Ceylon after 1878 and from Singapore after 1886. Cocos (Keeling) Islands hosted a cable relaying station and was attacked by the Germans in World War I. The Japanese similarly attacked the islands in World War II. The UK transferred the islands to Australia in 1955, which officially named the islands the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and in 1978, Australia bought all the land held by the Clunies-Ross family, ending their control of the islands’ governance. In a referendum in 1984, most islanders voted to integrate with Australia, and Western Australian laws have applied on the islands since 1992.
Cocos Islands - Geography 2023
top of pageLocation: 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 reference: Southeast Asia
Area
Total: 14 km²
Land: 14 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Comparative: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries
Total: 0 km
Coastline: 26 km
Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
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
Highest point: South Point on South Island 9 m
Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use
Land use
Agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Other: 100% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
Natural hazards: cyclone season is October to April
Geography
Note 1: there are 27 coral islands in the group; apart from North Keeling Island, which lies 30 km 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; the islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
Note 2: 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
Cocos Islands - People 2023
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: only Home Island and West Island are populated: 596 (July 2014 est.)
Growth rate: NA
Nationality
Noun: Cocos Islander(s)
Adjective: Cocos Islander
Ethnic groups: Europeans, Cocos Malays
Languages: Malay (Cocos dialect) 68.8%, English 22.3%, unspecified 8.9%; note - data represent language spoken at home (2016 est.)
Major-language samples:
Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Malay)
Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.
Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 75%, Anglican 3.5%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, none 12.9%, unspecified 6.3% (2016 est.)
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: NA
Youth dependency ratio: NA
Elderly dependency ratio: NA
Potential support ratio: NA
Median age
Population growth rate: NA
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: 8.89 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Net migration rate: NA
Population distribution: only Home Island and West Island are populated
Urbanization
Major urban areas
Environment
Current issues: freshwater resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs; illegal fishing a concern
Air pollutants
Sex ratio
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate
Total: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA
Life expectancy at birth
Total population: (2021) NA
Male: NA
Female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: NA
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: NA
Current health expenditure: NA
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: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Youth unemployment
Cocos Islands - Government 2023
top of pageCountry 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
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)
Dependent areas
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 2020
Legal system: common law based on the Australian model
International law organization participation
Citizenship: see Australia
Suffrage: 18 years of age
Executive branch
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019)
Head of government: Administrator Ms. Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)
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 4 members renewed every 2 years)
Elections: last held on 16 October 2023 (next to be held in October 2025)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 4, women 3, percent of women 43%
Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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)
From the us embassy: none (territory of Australia)
Flag description
: the flag of Australia is usedNational symbols
National anthem
Note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the King" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)
National heritage
Cocos Islands - Economy 2023
top of pageEconomy overview
Real gdp purchasing power parity: NA
Real gdp growth rate: 1% (2003)
Real gdp per capita
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture products: vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Industries: copra products, tourism
Industrial production growth rate
Labor force: NA
Labor force
Unemployment rate:
0.1% (2011)
60% (2000 est.)
60% (2000 est.)
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
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
Partners: United States 57%, Ireland 15% (2019)
Commodities: integrated circuits, vaccines and cultures, furniture, carbon batteries, rubber gloves (2021)
Imports: NA
Partners: Australia 73%, United Arab Emirates 15%, Netherlands 5% (2019)
Commodities: gold, x-ray equipment, cars, prefabricated buildings, packaged medicines (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt external
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
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)
1.3442 (2016 est.)
1.3442 (2015)
1.3291 (2014)
1.1094 (2013)
Cocos Islands - Energy 2023
top of pageElectricity
Coal
Petroleum
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Natural gas
Carbon dioxide emissions
Energy consumption per capita
Cocos Islands - Communication 2023
top of pageTelephones
Telephone system
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
Users total: 80 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 13.4% (2021 est.)
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Cocos Islands - Military 2023
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation
Space program
Terrorist groups
Cocos Islands - Transportation 2023
top of pageNational air transport system
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Airports: 1 (2021)
With paved runways: 1
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Heliports
Pipelines
Railways
Roadways
Total: 22 km (2007)
Paved: 10 km (2007)
Unpaved: 12 km (2007)
Waterways
Merchant marine
Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Port Refuge
Cocos Islands - Transnational issues 2023
top of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs