Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
NAIndependence none (territory of Australia)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 82 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. From the 1820s to 1978, members of the CLUNIE-ROSS family controlled the islands and the copra produced from local coconuts. Annexed by the UK in 1857, the Cocos Islands 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
Geography - note
- islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation;
- site of a World War I naval battle in November 1914 between the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney and the German raider SMS Emden;
- after being heavily damaged in the engagement, the Emden was beached by her captain on North Keeling Island
People
17 fieldsGovernment
NA; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Administrator (nonresident) Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)
19 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- conventional short form:
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Dependency status
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department
Capital
- name:
- West Island
- geographic coordinates:
- 12 10 S, 96 50 E
- time difference:
- UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1955) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
- head of government:
- Administrator (nonresident) Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)
- cabinet:
- NA
- elections:
- the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Legislative branch
unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats); elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held in May 2007 (next to be held in May 2009)
Economy
Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop.
16 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
note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others
Exchange rates
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- connected within Australia's telecommunication system; a local mobile-cellular network is in operation
- domestic:
- NA
- international:
- country code - 61;
- telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite;
- satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat) (2001)
Transportation
4 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Military
1 fieldMilitary - note
defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory has a five-person police force
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Cocos (Keeling) Islands.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cocos-keeling-islands/2008.