| Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Map:
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| Background: 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. |
| Geography and Environmental |
Capital: name: West Island
geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 55 E
time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Area Total: 14 sq km |
| Area Land: 14 sq km |
| Area Water: 0 sq km |
| Area Note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island |
| Area Comparative: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
| Coastline: 26 km |
| Climate: tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year |
| Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls |
| Elevation Extremes Lowest Point: Indian Ocean 0 m |
| Elevation Extremes Highest Point: unnamed location 5 m |
| Natural Resources: fish |
| Land Use Arable Land: 0% |
| Land Use Permanent Crops: 0% |
| Land Use Other: 100% (2005) |
| Irrigated Land: NA |
| Natural Hazards: cyclone season is October to April |
| Environment Current Issues: fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs |
| Geography Note: islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation |
| Population |
| Population: 596 (July 2007 est.) |
| Age Structure 0 to 14 Years: NA |
| Age Structure 15 to 64 Years: NA |
| Age Structure 65 Years And Over: NA |
| Population Growth Rate: 0% (2007 est.) |
| Birth Rate: NA |
| Death Rate: NA |
| Infant Mortality Rate Total: NA |
| Infant Mortality Rate Male: NA |
| Infant Mortality Rate Female: NA |
| Life Expectancy At BirthTotalPopulation: NA |
| Life Expectancy At Birth Male: NA |
| Life Expectancy At Birth Female: NA |
| Total Fertility Rate: NA |
| HIV AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate: NA |
| HIV AIDS People Living With HIV AIDS: NA |
| HIV AIDS Deaths: NA |
| Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.) |
| Languages: Malay (Cocos dialect), English |
| Administrative Divisions: none (territory of Australia) |
| Legal System: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws |
| Economy |
| Overview: 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. |
| GDP Purchasing Power Parity: $NA |
| Labor Force: NA |
| Labor Force By Occupation: note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others |
| Unemployment Rate: 60% (2000 est.) |
| Industries: copra products and tourism |
| Energy |
| Electricity Production By Source Fossil Fuel: NA |
| Electricity Production By Source Hydro: NA |
| Electricity Production By Source Nuclear: NA |
| Electricity Production By Source Other: NA |
| Exports: $NA |
| Exports Commodities: copra |
| Exports Partners: Australia (2004) |
| Imports: $NA |
| Imports Commodities: foodstuffs |
| Imports Partners: Australia (2004) |
| Economic Aid Recipient: $NA |
| Communications |
| Telephones Main Lines In Use: 287 (1992) |
| Telephone System General Assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication system |
| Telephone System Domestic: NA |
| Telephone System International: country code - 61; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 INTELSAT satellite earth station |
| Radio Broadcast Stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004) |
| Radios: 300 (1992) |
| Television Broadcast Stations: NA |
| Televisions: NA |
| Internet Service Providers-ISPs: 2 (2000) |
| Internet Users: NA |
| Transportation |
| Airports: 1 (2006) |
| Disputes International: none |