Cocos (Keeling) Islands




                                  Header


Affiliation:
     (territory of Australia)


                                 Geography


Location:
     Southeastern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, 1,070 km southwest of
     Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka
Map references:
     Southeast Asia
Area:
total area:
     14 sq km
land area:
     14 sq km
comparative area:
     about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
note:
     includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Land boundaries:
     0 km
Coastline:
     2.6 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
     200 nm
territorial sea:
     3 nm
International disputes:
     none
Climate:
     pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months
     of the year; moderate rain fall
Terrain:
     flat, low-lying coral atolls
Natural resources:
     fish
Land use:
arable land:
     0%
permanent crops:
     0%
meadows and pastures:
     0%
forest and woodland:
     0%
other:
     100%
Irrigated land:
     NA sq km




Environment:
current issues:
     NA
natural hazards:
     NA
international agreements:
     NA
Note:
     two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other
     vegetation


                                  People


Population:
     598 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
     0.98% (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
     Cocos Islander(s)
adjective:
     Cocos Islander
Ethnic divisions:
West Island:
     Europeans
Home Island:
     Cocos Malays
Religions:
     Sunni Muslims
Languages:
     English
Literacy:
total population:
     NA%
male:
     NA%
female:
     NA%
Labor force:
     NA


                                Government


Names:
conventional long form:
     Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form:
Digraph:
     CK
Type:
     territory of Australia
Capital:
     West Island




Administrative divisions:
     none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
     none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:
     NA
Constitution:
     Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Legal system:
     based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Suffrage:
     NA
Executive branch:
chief of state:
     Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
     Administrator B. CUNNINGHAM (since NA)
cabinet:
     Islands Council; Chairman of the Islands Council Haji WAHIN bin Bynie
     (since NA)
Legislative branch:
     unicameral Islands Council
Judicial branch:
     Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
     NA
Member of:
     none
Diplomatic representation in US:
     none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation:
     none (territory of Australia)
Flag:
     the flag of Australia is used


                                  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.
National product:
     GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
     NA%
National product per capita:
     $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
     NA%
Budget:
revenues:
     $NA
expenditures:
     $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA




Exports:
     $NA
commodities:
     copra
partners:
     Australia
Imports:
     $NA
commodities:
     foodstuffs
partners:
     Australia
External debt:
     $NA
Industrial production:
     growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
     1,000 kW
production:
     2 million kWh
consumption per capita:
     2,980 kWh (1990)
Industries:
     copra products
Agriculture:
     gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Economic aid:
     none
Currency:
     1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
     Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704
     (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)
Fiscal year:
     1 July - 30 June


                              Communications


Highways:
total:
     NA
paved:
     NA
unpaved:
     NA
Ports:
     none; lagoon anchorage only
Airports:
total:
     1
usable:
     1
with permanent-surface runways:
     1




with runways over 3,659 m:
     0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
     0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
     1
Telecommunications:
     250 radios (1985); linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile
     communications via satellite with Australia; broadcast stations - 1
     AM, no FM, no TV


                              Defense Forces


Note:
     defense is the responsibility of Australia