Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Australia and Oceania West Island

Population

593

Area

14 km²

GDP

N/A

GDP Per Capita

N/A

Pop. Density

42/km²

Background

British sea captain William KEELING discovered the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in 1609, and they were named for their coconut trees in 1622. Some maps began referring to them as the Keeling Islands in 1703. In 1825, Scottish trader John CLUNIES-ROSS was trying to get to Christmas Island but was blown off course and landed on Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The next year, a British trader hired CLUNIES-ROSS's brother to bring slaves and a harem of Malay women to create the first permanent settlement on the island. By the 1830s, the Clunies-Ross family had firmly established themselves as the leaders of the islands, and they ruled Cocos (Keeling) Islands in a feudal style until 1978.

The UK annexed the islands in 1857 and administered them from Ceylon after 1878 and from Singapore after 1886. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands hosted a cable relaying station and was attacked by the Germans in World War I. The Japanese similarly attacked the islands in World War II. The UK transferred the islands to Australia in 1955, when they were officially named the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and in 1978, Australia bought all the land held by the Clunies-Ross family, ending their control of the islands. In a referendum in 1984, most islanders voted to integrate with Australia, and Western Australian laws have applied on the islands since 1992.

Geography17

Location

Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka

Geographic coordinates

12 30 S, 96 50 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area

total : 14 sq km
land: 14 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 24 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

26 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

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

highest point: South Point on South Island 9 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

fish

Land use

agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land

Population distribution

only Home Island and West Island are populated

Natural hazards

cyclone season is October to April

Geography - note

there are 27 coral islands in the group; apart from North Keeling Island, which lies 30 km north of the main group, the islands form a horseshoe-shaped atoll around a lagoon

People & Society9

Population

total: 593 (2021 est.)
male: 301
female: 292

Nationality

noun: Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander

Ethnic groups

Europeans, Cocos Malays

Languages

Languages: Malay (Cocos dialect) 68.8%, English 22.3%, unspecified 8.9%; note - data represent language spoken at home (2016 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Malay)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 75%, Anglican 3.5%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, none 12.9%, unspecified 6.3% (2016 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.2%
15-64 years: 61.5%
65 years and over: 17.3% (2021)

Median age

total: 40 years (2021 est.)

Death rate

8.89 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Population distribution

only Home Island and West Island are populated

Government19

Country name

conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
etymology: the name refers to the abundant coconut trees on the islands and to English Captain William KEELING, the first European to sight the islands in 1609

Government type

non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia

Dependency status

non-self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development

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)

Legal system

common law based on the Australian model

Constitution

history: 23 November 1955 (Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955)

Citizenship

see Australia

Suffrage

18 years of age

Executive branch

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sam MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024)
head of government: Administrator Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)
cabinet: NA
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Australian prime minister; administrator appointed by the governor-general for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia

Legislative branch

legislature name

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council

legislative structure

unicameral

number of seats

7 (directly elected)

electoral system

plurality/majority

scope of elections

partial renewal

term in office

4 years

most recent election date

10/21/2023

percentage of women in chamber

16.7%

expected date of next election

October 2025

Judicial branch

highest court(s): under the terms of the Territorial Law Reform Act 1992, Western Australia provides court services as needed for the island including the Supreme Court and subordinate courts (District Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Children's Court, and Coroners' Court)

Political parties

none

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: none (territory of Australia)

International organization participation

none

Independence

none (territory of Australia)

National holiday

Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)

Flag

the flag of Australia is used

National anthem(s)

title: "God Save the King"
lyrics/music: unknown
history: royal anthem, as an Australian territory

Economy7

Agricultural products

vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Industries

copra products, tourism

Exports - partners

USA 31%, Singapore 29%, UK 12%, Australia 3%, Brazil 3% (2023)

Exports - commodities

ships (2023)

Imports - partners

Australia 87%, USA 3%, Philippines 2%, Sweden 2%, Brazil 1% (2023)

Imports - commodities

iron structures, special purpose motor vehicles, cars, ships, aluminum structures (2023)

Exchange rates

Currency

Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

1.515 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.505 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.442 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.331 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

1.453 (2020 est.)

Communications3

Broadcast media

1 local radio station staffed by community volunteers; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available (2017)

Internet country code

.cc

Internet users

percent of population: 13.4% (2021 est.)

Transportation1

Airports

1 (2025)

Military & Security1

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

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