Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NAIndependence none (territory of Australia)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 100 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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
Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka
17 fieldsLand useshare of 14 sq km
Location
Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka
Climate
tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year
Environment - current issues
fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
People
16 fieldsGovernment
NA; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general; Administrator (nonresident) William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)
19 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- conventional short form:
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Dependency status
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
- elections:
- none;
- the monarch is hereditary;
- administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
- head of government:
- Administrator (nonresident) William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)
- cabinet:
- NA
Economy
Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop.
30 fieldsEconomy - 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.
Labor force - by occupation
the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others
Exchange rates
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- connected within Australia's telecommunication system
- domestic:
- NA
- international:
- telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of NA type (2002)
Transportation
7 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Military
1 fieldMilitary - note
defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory does have a five-person police force
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Cocos (Keeling) Islands.” The World Factbook 2003. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cocos-keeling-islands/2003.