ARCHIVE // CC // 2013

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

2013 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
1 local radio station staffed by community volunteers; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available (2009)
Internet country code [time series]
.cc
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
42,820 (2012) country comparison to the world: 99
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: telephone service is part of the Australian network; an operational local mobile-cellular network available; wireless Internet connectivity available domestic: NA international: country code - 61; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat) (2001)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Budget [time series]
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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.
Exchange rates [time series]
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 0.97 (2012) 0.97 (2011) 1.09 (2010) 1.28 (2009) 1.21 (2008)
Exports [time series]
$NA
Exports - commodities [time series]
copra
Fiscal year [time series]
1 July - 30 June
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$NA
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
1% (2003) country comparison to the world: 160
Imports [time series]
$NA
Imports - commodities [time series]
foodstuffs
Industries [time series]
copra products, tourism
Labor force [time series]
NA
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism is the other main source of employment
Unemployment rate [time series]
60% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Geography
Area [time series]
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
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]
freshwater 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; 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
Irrigated land [time series]
NA
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2011)
Location [time series]
Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka
Map references [time series]
Oceania
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]
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)
Constitution [time series]
23 November 1955 (Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955); amended many times, last in 2010 (2010)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Dependency status [time series]
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
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) Jon STANHOPE (since 5 October 2012) cabinet: NA (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) 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 for a two-year term 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]
highest court(s): under the terms of the Territorial Law Reform Act 1992, Western Australia provides court services as needed for the island including the Supreme Court and subordinate courts (District Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Children's Court, and Coroners' Court) judge selection and term of office: NA subordinate courts: NA
Legal system [time series]
common law based on the Australian model
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 in October 2011 (next to be held in October 2013)
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
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)
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]
The Cocos Islands Youth Support Centre
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age
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. 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. Apart from North Keeling Island, which lies 30 kilometers north of the main group, the islands form a horseshoe-shaped atoll surrounding a lagoon. North Keeling Island was declared a national park in 1995 and is administered by Parks Australia. 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 has a five-person police force
People and Society
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
Literacy [time series]
NA
Nationality [time series]
noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander
Population [time series]
596 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 239
Population growth rate [time series]
0% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 196
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 (2013) country comparison to the world: 214
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Port Refuge
Roadways [time series]
total: 22 km country comparison to the world: 221 paved: 10 km unpaved: 12 km (2007)