ARCHIVE // AU // 2021

Coral Sea Islands

2021 Edition — territory

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2021 CSV Excel Print All Years
Communications
Communications - note [time series]
automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relay data to the mainland
Economy
Economic overview [time series]
no economic activity
Environment
Climate [time series]
tropical
Environment - current issues [time series]
no permanent freshwater resources; damaging activities include coral mining, destructive fishing practices (overfishing, blast fishing)
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.)
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 3 sq km less than land: 3 sq km less than water: 0 sq km note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 780,000 sq km (300,000 sq mi) with the Willis Islets the most important
Area - comparative [time series]
about four times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical
Coastline [time series]
3,095 km
Elevation [time series]
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 9 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Geographic coordinates [time series]
18 00 S, 152 00 E
Geography - note [time series]
important nesting area for birds and turtles
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.)
Location [time series]
Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
Map references [time series]
Oceania
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
occasional tropical cyclones
Natural resources [time series]
fish
Terrain [time series]
sand and coral reefs and islands (cays)
Government
Citizenship [time series]
see Australia
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands etymology: self-descriptive name to reflect the islands' position in the Coral Sea off the northeastern coast of Australia
Dependency status [time series]
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
embassy: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (territory of Australia)
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
the flag of Australia is used
Legal system [time series]
the common law legal system of Australia applies where applicable
Introduction
Background [time series]
The widely scattered islands were first charted in 1803, but they were too small to host any permanent human habitation. The 1870s and 1880s, saw attempts at guano mining, but these were soon abandoned. The islands became an Australian territory in 1969 and its boundaries were extended in 1997. A small meteorological staff has operated on the Willis Islets since 1921, and several other islands host unmanned weather stations, beacons, and lighthouses. Much of the territory lies within marine national nature reserves.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of Australia
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: NA 15-24 years: NA 25-54 years: NA 55-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate [time series]
NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
NA
Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]
NA
Death rate [time series]
NA (2021 est.)
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: NA
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Population [time series]
no indigenous inhabitants (July 2021 est.) note: there is a staff of four at the meteorological station on Willis Island
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only