CapitalWest Island
Population593
Area14 km²
LanguagesThe Cocos dialect of Malay is spoken by of the population, while English accounts for, and remain unspecified
CurrencyAustralian dollars
Governmentoverseas territory of Australia that does not possess self-governance
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.
Geography
Area
land
14 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
14 sq km
Climate
characterized by a tropical climate with elevated humidity, tempered by the southeast trade winds for approximately nine months each year
Terrain
consists of flat, low-lying coral atolls
Land use
other
100% (2018 est.)
forest
0% (2018 est.)
agricultural land
0% (2018 est.)
Location
located in Southeastern Asia, this group of islands is situated in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, roughly midway between Australia and Sri Lanka
Coastline
26 km
Elevation
lowest point
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point
South Point on South Island 9 m
Irrigated land
NA
Map references
Southeast Asia
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
the cyclone season occurs from October to April
Geography - note
the group consists of 27 coral islands; with the exception of North Keeling Island, which is positioned 30 km north of the main cluster, the islands encircle a lagoon in a horseshoe formation
Natural resources
fish
Area - comparative
approximately 24 times larger than the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
12 30 S, 96 50 E
Population distribution
only Home Island and West Island are inhabited
People & Society
Languages
Languages
The Cocos dialect of Malay is spoken by 68.8% of the population, while English accounts for 22.3%, and 8.9% remain unspecified; it is important to note that this data reflects the language used at home (est. 2016)
major-language sample(s)
Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Malay)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
The religious composition includes 75% Muslims (mainly Sunni), 3.5% Anglicans, 2.2% Roman Catholics, 12.9% reporting no religion, and 6.3% unspecified (est. 2016)
Death rate
8.89 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Median age
total
40 years (2021 est.)
Population
male
301
total
593 (2021 est.)
female
292
Nationality
noun
Cocos Islander(s)
adjective
Cocos Islander
Age structure
0-14 years
21.2%
15-64 years
61.5%
65 years and over
17.3% (2021)
Ethnic groups
Europeans, Cocos Malays
Population distribution
Only Home Island and West Island have residents
Environment
Climate
The climate is tropical and characterized by high humidity, influenced by the southeast trade winds for approximately nine months annually.
Land use
other
100% (2018 est.)
forest
0% (2018 est.)
agricultural land
0% (2018 est.)
Environmental issues
scarce freshwater supplies; unlawful fishing practices
Government
Flag
the Australian flag is utilized
Capital
name
West Island
time difference
UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
12 10 S, 96 50 E
Suffrage
18 years of age
Citizenship
see Australia
Constitution
history
23 November 1955 (Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955)
Country name
etymology
the designation is derived from the plentiful coconut palms on the islands and from English Captain William KEELING, the first European to discover the islands in 1609
conventional long form
Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Independence
none (territory of Australia)
Legal system
common law derived from the Australian precedent
Government type
overseas territory of Australia that does not possess self-governance
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
pursuant to the Territorial Law Reform Act 1992, Western Australia offers necessary court services for the island, encompassing the Supreme Court and subordinate courts (District Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Children's Court, and Coroners' Court)
Executive branch
cabinet
NA
chief of state
King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, General Sam MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024)
head of government
Administrator Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)
election/appointment process
the monarchy follows a hereditary system; the governor-general is appointed by the monarch based on the recommendation of the Australian prime minister; an administrator is designated by the governor-general for a two-year term to represent the monarch and Australia
National holiday
Australia Day (marks the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
Dependency status
a non-self-governing territory of Australia; managed from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development
Political parties
none
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
7 (directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
legislature name
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council
scope of elections
partial renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
10/21/2023
expected date of next election
October 2025
percentage of women in chamber
16.7%
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
history
royal anthem, as an Australian territory
lyrics/music
unknown
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
none (territory of Australia)
International organization participation
none
Economy
Industries
tourism, copra products
Exchange rates
Currency
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
1.453 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
1.331 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
1.442 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
1.505 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
1.515 (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 31%, Singapore 29%, UK 12%, Australia 3%, Brazil 3% (2023)
Imports - partners
Australia 87%, USA 3%, Philippines 2%, Sweden 2%, Brazil 1% (2023)
Agricultural products
vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Exports - commodities
ships (2023)
Imports - commodities
special purpose motor vehicles, iron structures, ships, cars, aluminum structures (2023)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
13.4% (2021 est.)
Broadcast media
A community-operated radio station featuring local volunteers; in 2017, satellite transmissions of various Australian television and radio stations were accessible.
Internet country code
.cc
Transportation
Airports
1 (2025)
Military & Security
Military - note
The duty of defense falls upon Australia.
