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Cocos (Keeling) Islands
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Background:
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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. |
| Geography | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Location:
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Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka |
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Geographic coordinates: | 12 30 S, 96 50 E |
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Map references:
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Southeast Asia |
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Area:
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total: 14 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island water: 0 sq km land: 14 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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26 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year |
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Terrain:
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flat, low-lying coral atolls |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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cyclone season is October to April |
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Environment - current issues:
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fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs |
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Geography - note:
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islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation |
| People | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Population:
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629 (July 2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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-0% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: NA%
male: NA% female: NA% (2004 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: NA years
male: NA years female: NA years (2004 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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NA children born/woman (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander |
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Ethnic groups:
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Europeans, Cocos Malays |
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Religions:
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Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.) |
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Languages:
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Malay (Cocos dialect), English |
| Government | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Dependency status:
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territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services |
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Government type:
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NA |
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Capital: | West Island |
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Administrative divisions:
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none (territory of Australia) |
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Independence:
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none (territory of Australia) |
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National holiday:
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Australia Day, 26 January (1788) |
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Constitution:
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Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 |
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Legal system:
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based upon the laws of Australia and local laws |
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Suffrage:
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NA |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003) cabinet: NA |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held NA |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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none |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none |
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International organization participation:
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none |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (territory of Australia) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (territory of Australia) |
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Flag description:
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the flag of Australia is used |
| Economy | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Economy - overview:
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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. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $NA |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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NA% |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $NA |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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NA% |
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Labor force:
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NA |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others |
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Unemployment rate:
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60% (2000 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
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Industries:
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copra products and tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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NA kWh |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA% other: NA% nuclear: NA% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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NA kWh |
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Agriculture - products:
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vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts |
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Exports:
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$NA |
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Exports - commodities:
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copra |
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Exports - partners:
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Australia |
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Imports:
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$NA |
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs |
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Imports - partners:
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Australia |
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Debt - external:
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$NA |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$NA |
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Currency:
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Australian dollar (AUD) |
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Currency code:
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AUD |
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Exchange rates:
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Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 July - 30 June |
| Communications | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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287 (1992) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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note - analog cellular service available |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication system
domestic: NA international: country code - 61(08); telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of NA type (2002) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004) |
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Radios:
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300 (1992) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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NA |
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Televisions:
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NA |
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Internet country code:
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.cc |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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2 (2000) |
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Internet users:
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NA |
| Transportation | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Railways:
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0 km |
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Highways:
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total: 15 km
paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (2003) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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none; lagoon anchorage only |
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Merchant marine:
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none |
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Airports:
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1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
| Military | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory does have a five-person police force |
| Transnational Issues | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Disputes - international:
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none |