Background: There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William KEELING discovered the islands in 1609 but they remained uninhabited until the 19th century. From the 1820s to 1978 members of the CLUNIE-ROSS family controlled the islands and the copra produced from local coconuts. Annexed by the UK in 1857 the Cocos Islands were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.

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: 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
Extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land: NA

Natural hazards: cyclone season is October to April

Geography
Note: islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation; 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

Population: 596 (July 2007 est.)
Growth rate: 0% (2008 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Cocos Islander
Adjective: Cocos Islander

Ethnic groups: Europeans Cocos Malays

Languages: Malay (Cocos dialect) English

Religions: Sunni Muslim 80% other 20% (2002 est.)

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

Population growth rate: 0% (2008 est.)

Birth rate: NA (2008 est.)

Death rate: NA (2008 est.)

Net migration rate: NA (2008 est.)

Environment
Current issues: fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs

Infant mortality rate
Total: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate: NA (2008 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Literacy: NA

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

Government type: NA

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)

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: Australia Day 26 January (1788)

Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1955) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992

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

Suffrage: NA

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
Head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)
Cabinet: NA
Elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia

Legislative branch
Elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held in May 2007 (next to be held in May 2009)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court

Political parties and leaders: none

International organization participation: none

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

Flag description: the flag of Australia is used

Economy overview: Grown throughout the islands coconuts are the sole cash crop. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia. There is a small tourist industry.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $NA

Agriculture products: vegetables bananas pawpaws coconuts

Industries: copra products and tourism

Labor force: NA
By occupation note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others

Unemployment rate: 60% (2000 est.)

Budget
Revenues: $NA
Expenditures: $NA

Exports: $NA
Commodities: copra
Partners: Australia (2006)

Imports: $NA
Commodities: foodstuffs
Partners: Australia (2006)

Exchange rates: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007) 1.3285 (2006) 1.3095 (2005) 1.3598 (2004) 1.5419 (2003)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 287 (1992)

Telephone system
General assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication system; a local mobile-cellular network is in operation
Domestic: NA
International: country code - 61; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat) (2001)

Internet
Country code: .cc
Users: NA

Airports: 1 (2007)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2007)

Roadways
Total: 22 km
Paved: 10 km
Unpaved: 12 km (2006)

Ports and terminals: Port Refuge

Disputes international: none