Cocos Islands
The following is the entry for the Cocos Islands from the CIA World Fact
Book, 1992 edition.
:Cocos Islands Geography
Total area:
14 km2
Land area:
14 km2; main islands are West Island and Home Island
Comparative area:
about 24 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
2.6 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Disputes:
none
Climate:
pleasant, modified by the southeasttrade wind for about nine months of the
year; moderate rain fall
Terrain:
flat, low-lying coral atolls
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and
woodland 0%; other 100%
Environment:
two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
Note:
located 1,070 km southwest of Sumatra
(Indonesia) in the
Indian Ocean
about halfway between
Australia
and Sri Lanka
:Cocos Islands People
Population:
597 (July 1992), growth rate - 0.5% (1992)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
NA migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
NA deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
NA years male, NA years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Cocos Islander(s); adjective - Cocos Islander
Ethnic divisions:
mostly Europeans on West Island and Cocos Malays on Home Island
Religions:
almost all Sunni Muslims
Languages:
English
Literacy:
NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
Labor force:
NA
Organized labor:
none
:Cocos Islands Government
Long-form name:
Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Type:
territory of Australia
Capital:
West Island
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of
Australia)
Independence:
none (territory of
Australia)
Constitution:
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Legal system:
based upon the laws of
Australia
and local laws
National holiday:
NA
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general of
Australia,
administrator, chairman of the Islands Council
Legislative branch:
unicameral Islands Council
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
Head of Government:
Administrator B. CUNNINGHAM (since NA); Chairman of the Islands Council Haji
Wahin bin BYNIE (since NA)
Suffrage:
NA
Elections:
NA
Member of:
none
Diplomatic representation:
none (territory of
Australia)
Flag:
the flag of
Australia is used
:Cocos Islands Economy
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.
GDP:
$NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$NA
commodities:
copra
partners:
Australia
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
foodstuffs
partners:
Australia
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
1,000 kW capacity; 2 million kWh produced, 2,980 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
copra products
Agriculture:
gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
Australian dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3360 (January 1992), 1.2836 (1991),
1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
:Cocos Islands Communications
Ports:
none; lagoon anchorage only
Airports:
1 airfield with permanent-surface runway, 1,220-2,439 m; airport on West
Island is a link in service between
Australia
and South Africa
Telecommunications:
250 radios (1985); linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile communications
via satellite with
Australia;
broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV
:Cocos Islands Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of
Australia
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Jim Croft