Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Agriculture-products

vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Currency

1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

Debt-external

$NA

Economic aid

none

Economy-overview

Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia.

Electricity-capacity

NA kW

Electricity-consumption per capita

NA kWh

Electricity-production

NA kWh

Exchange rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1-1.5281 (January 1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993)

Exports

$NA commodities: copra partners: Australia

Fiscal year

1 July-30 June Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$NA

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$NA

GDP-real growth rate

NA%

Imports

$NA commodities: foodstuffs partners: Australia

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

copra products and tourism

Inflation rate-consumer price index

NA%

Labor force

NA note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage worker operations; tourism employs others

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

300 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

domestic: NA international: telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of NA type

Telephones

NA

Television broadcast stations

0 note: intermittent television service via satellite

Televisions

NA

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

Area-comparative

about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Climate

pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of the year; moderate rainfall

Coastline

2.6 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment-current issues

fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs

Environment-international agreements

party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geographic coordinates

12 30 S, 96 50 E

Geography-note

two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 100% (1993 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri Lanka

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural hazards

cyclones may occur in the early months of the year

Natural resources

fish

Terrain

flat, low-lying coral atolls

Administrative divisions

none (territory of Australia)

Constitution

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955

Country name

conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Data code

CK

Dependency status

territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of Australia)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Administrator (acting) Maureen ELLIS (since NA) cabinet: NA elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the queen and Australia

Flag description

the flag of Australia is used

Government type

NA

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

International organization participation

WMO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

based upon the laws of Australia and local laws

Legislative branch

unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (NA seats)

National capital

West Island

National holiday

NA

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

NA

Military-note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

Ethnic groups

Europeans, Cocos Malays

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English, Malay

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA male: NA female: NA

Nationality

noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

637 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.21% (1998 est.)

Religions

Sunni Muslim 57%, Christian 22%, other 21% (1981 est.)

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

Disputes-international

none COLOMBIA

Airports

1 (1997 est.)

Airports-with paved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km

Merchant marine

none

Ports and harbors

none; lagoon anchorage only

Railways

0 km