Communications: Broadcast media
1 local radio station staffed by community volunteers; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available (2017)
Communications: Internet country code
.cc
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
13.4% (2021 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
1.453 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
1.331 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
1.442 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
1.505 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
1.515 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
ships (2023)
Economy: Imports - commodities
iron structures, special purpose motor vehicles, cars, ships, aluminum structures (2023)
Environment: Climate
tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year
Environment: Environmental issues
limited freshwater resources; illegal fishing
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
0% (2018 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
0% (2018 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
100% (2018 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
about 24 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Geography: Area: land
14 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
26 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
South Point on South Island 9 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Indian Ocean 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
12 30 S, 96 50 E
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
NA
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
0% (2018 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
0% (2018 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
100% (2018 est.)
Geography: Map references
Southeast Asia
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
cyclone season is October to April
Geography: Population distribution
only Home Island and West Island are populated
Geography: Terrain
flat, low-lying coral atolls
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
12 10 S, 96 50 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship
see Australia
Government: Constitution: history
23 November 1955 (Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955)
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Government: Country name: 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: Dependency status
non-self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
none (territory of Australia)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of Australia)
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
NA
Government: 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)
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Administrator Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)
Government: Flag
the flag of Australia is used
Government: International organization participation
none
Government: 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)
Government: Legal system
common law based on the Australian model
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
October 2025
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
10/21/2023
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
7 (directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
16.7%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
partial renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
royal anthem, as an Australian territory
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
unknown
Government: National holiday
Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
Government: Political parties
none
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Australia
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
21.2%
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
61.5%
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
17.3% (2021)
People and Society: Death rate
8.89 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Europeans, Cocos Malays
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Malay (Cocos dialect) 68.8%, English 22.3%, unspecified 8.9%; note - data represent language spoken at home (2016 est.)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Malay) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Cocos Islander
People and Society: Population distribution
only Home Island and West Island are populated
People and Society: Population: female
292
People and Society: Population: male
301
Transportation: Airports
1 (2025)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.