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 CLUNIES-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. Apart from North Keeling Island which lies 30 kilometers 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.

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
Rank: 243
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
Mean elevation: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m: highest point: South Point on South Island 9 m

Natural resources: fish

Land use
Agricultural land: 0%
Forest: 0%
Other: 100%

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
Distribution: only Home Island and West Island are populated: 596 (July 2014 est.)
Rank: 236
Growth rate: 0% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 194

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.)

Population growth rate: 0% (2014 est.)
Rank: 194

Population distribution: only Home Island and West Island are populated

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

Infant mortality rate
Total: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

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

Total fertility rate: NA

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

Country name
Conventional long form: Territory of Cocos Islands
Conventional short form: Cocos 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

Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

Independence: none (territory of Australia)

National holiday: Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers) 26 January (1788)

Constitution: 23 November 1955 (Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955); amended many times last in 2010 (2016)

Legal system: common law based on the Australian model

Citizenship: see Australia

Suffrage: 18 years of age

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II ; represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014)
Head of government: Administrator Barry HAASE (since 6 October 2014)
Cabinet: NA
Electionsappointments: 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 Islands Shire Council (7 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms with half the membership renewed every 2 years)
Elections: last held in October 2015

Judicial branch
Highest court: 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

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

National anthem
Note: as a territory of Australia 'Advance Australia Fair' remains official as the national anthem while 'God Save the Queen' serves as the royal anthem

Economy overview: Coconuts grown throughout the islands 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: $N/A

Real gdp growth rate: 1% (2003)
Rank: 172

Agriculture products: vegetables bananas pawpaws coconuts

Industries: copra products tourism

Labor force: NA
By occupation note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers stevedores and lighterage workers; tourism is the other main source of employment

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 1

Budget
Revenues: $N/A
Expenditures: $N/A

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Exports: $N/A
Commodities: copra

Imports: $N/A
Commodities: foodstuffs

Exchange rates:

Telephone system
General assessment: telephone service is part of the Australian network; an operational local mobile-cellular network available; wireless Internet connectivity available
Domestic: local area code - 08
International: international code - 61 8; telephone telex and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; satellite earth station - 1 (2017)

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

Airports: 1 (2013)
Rank: 216
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1

Roadways
Total: 22 km
Paved: 10 km
Unpaved: 12 km
Rank: 222

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Port Refuge

Disputes international: none

Illicit drugs
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