ARCHIVE // CC // 2005

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

2005 Edition — territory

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Communications
Internet country code [time series]
.cc
Internet users [time series]
NA
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication system domestic: NA international: country code - 61-891; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of NA type (2002)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
287 (1992)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
note - analog cellular service available
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
NA
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Budget [time series]
revenues: NA expenditures: NA
Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]
Australian dollar (AUD)
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
NA
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Grown throughout the islands, coconuts 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.
Exchange rates [time series]
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)
Exports [time series]
NA
Exports - commodities [time series]
copra
Exports - partners [time series]
Australia
Fiscal year [time series]
1 July - 30 June
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
NA
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
NA%
Imports [time series]
NA
Imports - commodities [time series]
foodstuffs
Imports - partners [time series]
Australia
Industries [time series]
copra products and tourism
Labor force [time series]
NA
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others
Unemployment rate [time series]
60% (2000 est.)
Geography
Area [time series]
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 [time series]
about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year
Coastline [time series]
26 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
Geographic coordinates [time series]
12 30 S, 96 50 E
Geography - note [time series]
islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
Irrigated land [time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Location [time series]
Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka
Map references [time series]
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
cyclone season is October to April
Natural resources [time series]
fish
Terrain [time series]
flat, low-lying coral atolls
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
Capital [time series]
West Island
Constitution [time series]
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1953)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Dependency status [time series]
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003) cabinet: NA elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
the flag of Australia is used
Government type [time series]
NA
Independence [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
International organization participation [time series]
none
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court
Legal system [time series]
based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats) elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held NA
National holiday [time series]
Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
none
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
none
Suffrage [time series]
NA
Introduction
Background [time series]
There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William KEELING discovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited until the 19th century. Annexed by the UK in 1857, they 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.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory does have a five-person police force
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate [time series]
NA
Death rate [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
Europeans, Cocos Malays
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: NA male: NA female: NA
Languages [time series]
Malay (Cocos dialect), English
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Nationality [time series]
noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander
Net migration rate [time series]
NA
Population [time series]
628 (July 2005 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0% (2005 est.)
Religions [time series]
Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
NA
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 15 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (2003)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Port Refuge