Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

 
Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence
World Factbook Title
navigation arrows
View Text Low Bandwidth Version Download Publication
Australia-Oceania :: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
(territory of Australia)
page last updated on November 15, 2012
Flag of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Click flag or map to enlarge Opens in New Window
 
Map of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Click map to enlarge Opens in New Window
Photos of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
 
Navigation Arrow view 1 photo Opens in New Window
of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Expand All | collapse All
Introduction ::Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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 CLUNIE-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. The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.
Back to Top
Geography ::Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
12 30 S, 96 50 E
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 14 sq km
country comparison to the world: 241
land: 14 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
26 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
flat, low-lying coral atolls
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
fish
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
cyclone season is October to April
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
freshwater resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Back to Top
People and Society ::Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
noun: Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Europeans, Cocos Malays
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Malay (Cocos dialect), English
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
596 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 238
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2012 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
-9 births/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 223
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
-9 deaths/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 225
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Back to Top
Government ::Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territory of Australia)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territory of Australia)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1955) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
common law based on the Australian model
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
18 years of age
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Brian LACY (since 5 October 2009)
cabinet: NA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Australian prime minister; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held in October 2009 (next to be held in October 2011)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
The Cocos Islands Youth Support Centre
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territory of Australia)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none (territory of Australia)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
the flag of Australia is used
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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)
Back to Top
Economy ::Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1% (2003)
country comparison to the world: 163
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism is the other main source of employment
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
60% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
copra
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
foodstuffs
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
0.963 (2012)
0.9695 (2011)
1.0902 (2010)
1.2822 (2009)
1.2059 (2008)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1 July - 30 June
Back to Top
Communications ::Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication system; a local mobile-cellular network is in operation
domestic: NA
international: country code - 61; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat) (2001)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1 local radio station staffed by community volunteers; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations are received via satellite (2009)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
.cc
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
42,820 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 99
Back to Top
Transportation ::Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 222
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2012)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 22 km
country comparison to the world: 221
paved: 10 km
unpaved: 12 km (2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Port Refuge
Back to Top
Military ::Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory has a five-person police force
Back to Top
Transnational Issues ::Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none
Back to Top
Expand All | collapse All
  The online Factbook is updated weekly. ISSN 1553-8133
For additional information on government leaders in selected foreign countries, go to World Leaders.