Population: 628 (July 2005 est.)

Capital: West Island

Languages: 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.

Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)

Government: NA

Climate: tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year

Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls

Geography: 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.

Ethnic groups: Europeans, Cocos Malays

Economy:

GDP per capita: Cocos Islander(s) Cocos Islander

GDP real growth: NA%

Unemployment rate: 60% (2000 est.)

Internet country code: .cc

Dial code: +891