World · permanent entity record · CC
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Thirty-second orientation
Cocos (Keeling) Islands at a glance
- Capital
- name: West Island geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 50 E time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-08
- Population
- total: 593 (2021 est.) male: 301 female: 292
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-08
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-08
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-08
- Government
- non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-08
- Languages
- Malay (Cocos dialect) 68.8%, English 22.3%, unspecified 8.9%; note - data represent language spoken at home (2016 est.) major-language sample(s): Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Malay) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-08
Claims are attributed · classifications are dated
Claims and contested status
Maintained classification
Dependency or area of special sovereignty
Australia
U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31A claim’s appearance records that the cited source reports it. It does not constitute an Almanac ruling on sovereignty.
Maintained profile
- Classification
- Dependency or area of special sovereignty
- U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · Federal classification and wording follow the current State Department register.
- Sovereignty or administration
- Australia
- U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty ·
- Administrative center
- West Island
- U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty ·
Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data
Final CIA World Factbook profile
This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.
CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b
Introduction1 fields
- 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.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Geography17 fields
- Location
- Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area - comparative
- about 24 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Maritime claims
- territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Elevation
- highest point: South Point on South Island 9 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- only Home Island and West Island are populated
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural hazards
- cyclone season is October to April
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
People and Society9 fields
- Population
- total: 593 (2021 est.) male: 301 female: 292
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Nationality
- noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Languages
- Malay (Cocos dialect) 68.8%, English 22.3%, unspecified 8.9%; note - data represent language spoken at home (2016 est.) major-language sample(s): Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Malay) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Religions
- Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 75%, Anglican 3.5%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, none 12.9%, unspecified 6.3% (2016 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Age structure
- 0-14 years: 21.2% 15-64 years: 61.5% 65 years and over: 17.3% (2021)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Death rate
- 8.89 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- only Home Island and West Island are populated
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Environment3 fields
- Environmental issues
- limited freshwater resources; illegal fishing
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0% (2018 est.) other: 100% (2018 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Government19 fields
- Country name
- conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Government type
- non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency status
- non-self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Capital
- name: West Island geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 50 E time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legal system
- common law based on the Australian model
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Constitution
- history: 23 November 1955 (Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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) head of government: Administrator Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023) cabinet: NA 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch
- legislature name: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 7 (directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: partial renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/21/2023 percentage of women in chamber: 16.7% expected date of next election: October 2025
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- none (territory of Australia)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation from the US
- embassy: none (territory of Australia)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National holiday
- Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National anthem(s)
- title: "Advance Australia Fair" lyrics/music: Peter Dodds McCORMICK history: national anthem, as an Australian territory _____ title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: royal anthem, as an Australian territory
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Economy7 fields
- Agricultural products
- vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - partners
- USA 31%, Singapore 29%, UK 12%, Australia 3%, Brazil 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - commodities
- ships (2023) note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - partners
- Australia 87%, USA 3%, Philippines 2%, Sweden 2%, Brazil 1% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - commodities
- iron structures, special purpose motor vehicles, cars, ships, aluminum structures (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exchange rates
- Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.515 (2024 est.) 1.505 (2023 est.) 1.442 (2022 est.) 1.331 (2021 est.) 1.453 (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Communications3 fields
- Broadcast media
- 1 local radio station staffed by community volunteers; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available (2017)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Internet users
- percent of population: 13.4% (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transportation1 fields
Military and Security1 fields
- Military - note
- defense is the responsibility of Australia
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
The underlying United States government material is public domain. The Almanac’s reuse terms do not change the legal status of this preserved source layer.