Statistics Cocos Islands 
Cocos Islands in the World
Cocos Islands - Introduction 2021
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.
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
Climate: tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year
Geography
Note note1:
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
Cocos Islands - People 2021
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Distribution: only Home Island and West Island are populated: 596 (July 2014 est.)
Growth rate: NA (2021 est.)
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)
The Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.
The 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.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: NA
Youth dependency ratio: NA
Elderly dependency ratio: NA
Potential support ratio: NA
Environment
Current issues: freshwater resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs; illegal fishing a concern
Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: NA
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: NA
Cocos Islands - Government 2021
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
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)
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
Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019)
Head of government: Administrator Natasha GRIGGS (since 5 October 2017)
Cabinet: NA
Elections and 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 half the membership renewed every 2 years)
Elections: last held in October 2017 (next to be held on 31 October 2019)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 5, women 2, percent of women 28.6%
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)
Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (territory of Australia)
From the us embassy: none (territory of Australia)
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 (see Australia)
Cocos Islands - Economy 2021
top of pageLabor 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
Exports: NA
Partners: United States 57%, Ireland 15% (2019)
Commodities: computers, packaged medicines, precious metal watches, office machinery/parts, chemical analysis instruments (2019)
Imports: NA
Partners: Australia 73%, United Arab Emirates 15%, Netherlands 5% (2019)
Commodities: gold, x-ray equipment, cars, prefabricated buildings, packaged medicines (2019)
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)
1.311 (2017 est.)
1.3442 (2016 est.)
1.3442 (2015)
1.3291 (2014)
1.1094 (2013)
Cocos Islands - Energy 2021
top of pageCocos Islands - Communication 2021
top of pageBroadcast media: 1 local radio station staffed by community volunteers; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available (2017)
Cocos Islands - Military 2021
top of pageCocos Islands - Transportation 2021
top of pageCocos Islands - Transnational issues 2021
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