Cocos (Keeling) Islands
(Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands) You are here:Home > Country
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Government Information
Chief
of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by the Australian governor general
Head of Government: Administrator
(nonresident) Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006) Government Type: NA
Population Demographics
Population:
574 (July 2006 est.) Languages: Malay (Cocos dialect),
English Religion: Sunni Muslim 80%, other
20% (2002 est.) Life Expectancy: NA
Economic Information
Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD) GDP(per capita): - Overview: Grown throughout
the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Small
local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply,
but additional food and most other necessities must
be imported from Australia. There is a small tourist
industry. Exports: copra Import: foodstuffs
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Geography
Information
Location:
Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean,
southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to
Sri Lanka Area: total: 14 sq km
land: 14 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and
Home Island
Background:
There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William
KEELING discovered the islands in 1609, but they remained
uninhabited until the 19th century. Annexed by the UK
in 1857, they were transferred to the Australian Government
in 1955. The population on the two inhabited islands
generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West
Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.
Independence Day: none (territory
of Australia)
Capital City: West Island Administrative divisions: none
(territory of Australia)
