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Coral Sea Islands

2025 Edition — territory

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Environment
Climate [time series]
tropical
Environmental issues [time series]
no permanent freshwater resources; damaging activities include coral mining, 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, D.C.
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 [time series]
the flag of Australia is used
Legal system [time series]
the common law system of Australia applies
Introduction
Background [time series]
The widely scattered Coral Sea Islands were first charted in 1803, but they were too small to host 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 the 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 national marine nature reserves.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of Australia
People and Society
Population [time series]
total: no permanent inhabitants note: Willis Island is inhabited by meteorological staff