Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

300 (1992)

Telephone system

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

Telephones - main lines in use

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

0 (1997)

Televisions

NA

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 - recipient

$NA

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 - consumption

NA kWh

Electricity - exports

NA kWh

Electricity - imports

NA kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%

Exchange rates

Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.5207 (January 2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995)

Exports

$NA

Exports - commodities

copra

Exports - partners

Australia

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

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%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$NA

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Australia

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

copra products and tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

NA

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

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 winds 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

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: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% 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)

Capital

West Island

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

Flag description

the flag of Australia is used

Government type

NA

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

International organization participation

none

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 holiday

NA

Political parties and leaders

none

Suffrage

NA

Background

A possession of the UK since 1857, the islands were transferred to Australia in 1955.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Age structure

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

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 years male: NA years female: NA years

Nationality

noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

635 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.21% (2000 est.)

Religions

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

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

Disputes - international

none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports

1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

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

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

none; lagoon anchorage only

Railways

0 km