SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(4 fields)
Airports
total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1
Highways
total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA
Ports
none; lagoon anchorage only
Telecommunications
250 radios (1985); linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile communications via satellite with Australia; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV
◆ DEFENSE FORCES(1 fields)
Note
defense is the responsibility of Australia
◆ ECONOMY(17 fields)
Agriculture
gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Budget
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Currency
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Economic aid
none
Electricity
capacity: 1,000 kW production: 2 million kWh consumption per capita: 2,980 kWh (1990)
Exchange rates
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)
Exports
$NA commodities: copra partners: Australia
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
Imports
$NA commodities: foodstuffs partners: Australia
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
copra products
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
National product
GDP $NA
National product per capita
$NA
National product real growth rate
NA%
Overview
Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia.
◆ GEOGRAPHY(14 fields)
Area
total area: 14 sq km land area: 14 sq km comparative area: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Climate
pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine months of the year; moderate rain fall
Coastline
2.6 km
Environment
current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Location
Southeastern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, 1,070 km southwest of Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural resources
fish
Note
two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
Terrain
flat, low-lying coral atolls
◆ GOVERNMENT(18 fields)
Administrative divisions
none (territory of Australia)
Capital
West Island
Constitution
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Digraph
CK
Diplomatic representation in US
none (territory of Australia)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Administrator B. CUNNINGHAM (since NA) cabinet: Islands Council; Chairman of the Islands Council Haji WAHIN bin Bynie (since NA)
Flag
the flag of Australia is used
Independence
none (territory of Australia)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Legal system
based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Legislative branch
unicameral Islands Council
Member of
none
Names
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
National holiday
NA
Political parties and leaders
NA
Suffrage
NA
Type
territory of Australia
US diplomatic representation
none (territory of Australia)
◆ PEOPLE(9 fields)
Home Island
Cocos Malays
Labor force
NA
Languages
English
Literacy
total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality
noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander
Population
598 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate
0.98% (1994 est.)
Religions
Sunni Muslims
West Island
Europeans