COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS (territory of Australia) 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: 42.6 km Maritime claims: Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year; moderate rainfall 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 PEOPLE Population: 684 (July 1991), growth rate NEGL% (1991) Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991) Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991) Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991) Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991) Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991) Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991) Nationality: noun--Cocos Islander(s); adjective--Cocos Islander(s) Ethnic divisions: mostly Europeans on West Island and Cocos Malays on Home Island Religion: almost all Sunni Muslims Language: English Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%) Labor force: NA Organized labor: none 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 D. LAWRIE (since NA 1989); Chairman of the Islands Council Parson Bin YAPAT (since NA) Suffrage: NA Elections: NA Member of: none 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. GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment: 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--1.2834 (January 1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985) Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June 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; stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV DEFENSE FORCES Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia