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COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS

 (territory of Australia) 

@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Geography

 Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean,
 south of Indonesia, about one-half of the way from Australia to Sri
 Lanka

 Map references: Southeast Asia

 Area:
 total area: 14 sq km
 land area: 14 sq km
 comparative area: about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
 DC
 note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island

 Land boundaries: 0 km

 Coastline: 2.6 km

 Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
 territorial sea: 3 nm

 International disputes: none

 Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade wind for about nine
 months of the year; moderate rain fall

 Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls

 Natural resources: fish

 Land use:
 arable land: NA%
 permanent crops: NA%
 meadows and pastures: NA%
 forest and woodland: NA%
 other: NA%

 Irrigated land: NA sq km

 Environment:
 current issues: there are no natural fresh water resources on the
 island, groundwater does accumulate in natural underground reservoirs
 natural hazards: cyclones may occur in the early months of the year
 international agreements: NA

 Note: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms and other
 vegetation

@Cocos (keeling) Islands:People

 Population: 604 (July 1995 est.)

 Age structure:
 0-14 years: NA
 15-64 years: NA
 65 years and over: NA

 Population growth rate: 0.98% (1995 est.)

 Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population

 Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population

 Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

 Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births

 Life expectancy at birth:
 total population: NA years
 male: NA years
 female: NA years

 Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

 Nationality:
 noun: Cocos Islander(s)
 adjective: Cocos Islander

 Ethnic divisions:
 West Island: Europeans
 Home Island: Cocos Malays

 Religions: Sunni Muslims

 Languages: English

 Labor force: NA

@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Government

 Names:
 conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
 conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

 Digraph: CK

 Type: territory of Australia

 Capital: West Island

 Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)

 Independence: none (territory of Australia)

 National holiday: NA

 Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955

 Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws

 Suffrage: NA

 Executive branch:
 chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
 head of government: Administrator B. CUNNINGHAM (since NA)
 cabinet: Islands Council; Chairman of the Islands Council Haji WAHIN
 bin Bynie (since NA)

 Legislative branch: unicameral Islands Council

 Judicial branch: Supreme Court

 Political parties and leaders: NA

 Member of: none

 Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)

 US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

 Flag: the flag of Australia is used

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.

 National product: GDP $NA

 National product real growth rate: NA%

 National product per capita: $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:
 capacity: 1,000 kW
 production: 2 million kWh
 consumption per capita: 2,980 kWh (1990)

 Industries: copra products

 Agriculture: gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

 Economic aid: none

 Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents

 Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January
 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2836 (1991),
 1.2799 (1990)

 Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Transportation

 Railroads: 0 km

 Highways:
 total: NA km
 paved: NA km
 unpaved: NA km

 Ports: none; lagoon anchorage only

 Merchant marine: none

 Airports:
 total: 1
 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Communications

 Telephone system: NA telephones
 local: NA
 intercity: NA
 international: linked by telephone, telex, and facsimile
 communications via satellite with Australia

 Radio:
 broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
 radios: 250 (1985)

 Television:
 broadcast stations: 0
 televisions: NA

@Cocos (keeling) Islands:Defense Forces

 Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia


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