Cocos (Keeling) Islands :: Australia-Oceania
Introduction
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.
Geography
Location:
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 references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total:
14 sq km
land:
14 sq km
water:
0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
country comparison to the world: 240
Area - 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:
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
South Point on South Island 9 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
agricultural land:
0%
(2011 est.)
arable land:
0%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent crops:
0%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent pasture:
0%
(2011 est.)
forest:
0%
(2011 est.)
other:
100%
(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA
Population distribution:
only Home Island and West Island are populated
Natural hazards:
cyclone season is October to April
Environment - current issues:
freshwater resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs; illegal fishing a concern
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
People and Society
Population:
596
(July 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 236
Nationality:
noun:
Cocos Islander(s)
adjective:
Cocos Islander
Ethnic groups:
Europeans, Cocos Malays
Languages:
English 22.3%, Malay (Cocos dialect) 68.8%, unspecified 8.9%
(2016 est.)
note: data represent language spoken at home
Religions:
Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 75%, Anglican 3.5%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, none 12.9%, unspecified 6.3%
(2016 est.)
Population growth rate:
0%
(2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Population distribution:
only Home Island and West Island are populated
Infant mortality rate:
total:
NA
(2018)
male:
NA
female:
NA
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
NA
(2017 est.)
male:
NA
female:
NA
Total fertility rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Government
Country 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
Dependency status:
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
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)
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 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 (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sir Peter COSGROVE (since 28 March 2014)
head of government:
Administrator Natasha GRIGGS (since 5 October 2018)
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 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:
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)
Diplomatic representation 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 (see Australia)
Economy
Economic 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.
GDP real growth rate:
1%
(2003)
country comparison to the world: 172
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
NA
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Industries:
copra products, tourism
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - 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:
0.1%
(2011)
60%
(2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
Budget:
revenues:
NA
expenditures:
NA
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Exports:
NA
Exports - commodities:
copra
Imports:
NA
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs
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)
Communications
Telecommunication systems:
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 (Intelsat)
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
Transportation
Airports:
1
(2020)
country comparison to the world: 217
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
1
(2019)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
Roadways:
total:
22 km
(2007)
paved:
10 km
(2007)
unpaved:
12 km
(2007)
country comparison to the world: 221
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s):
Port Refuge
Military and Security
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory has a five-person police force
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
none
