_#_Climate: pleasant, modified by the southeast trade winds for about
nine months of the year; moderate rainfall
_#_Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls
_#_Natural resources: fish
_#_Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%
_#_Environment: two coral atolls thickly covered with coconut palms
and other vegetation
_#_Note: located 1,070 km southwest of Sumatra (Indonesia) in the
Indian Ocean about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka
_*_People
_#_Population: 684 (July 1991), growth rate NEGL% (1991)
_#_Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
_#_Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991)
_#_Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991)
_#_Nationality: noun--Cocos Islander(s); adjective--Cocos Islander(s)
_#_Ethnic divisions: mostly Europeans on West Island and Cocos Malays
on Home Island
_#_Religion: almost all Sunni Muslims
_#_Language: English
_#_Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
_#_Labor force: NA
_#_Organized labor: none
_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
_#_Type: territory of Australia
_#_Capital: West Island
_#_Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
_#_Independence: none (territory of Australia)
_#_Constitution: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
_#_Legal system: based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
_#_National holiday: NA
_#_Executive branch: British monarch, governor general of Australia,
administrator, chairman of the Islands Council
_#_Legislative branch: unicameral Islands Council
_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
Head of Government--Administrator D. LAWRIE (since NA 1989);
Chairman of the Islands Council Parson Bin YAPAT (since NA)
_#_Suffrage: NA
_#_Elections: NA
_#_Member of: none
_#_Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
_#_Flag: the flag of Australia is used
_*_Economy
_#_Overview: Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash
crop. Copra and fresh coconuts are the major export earners. Small local
gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food
and most other necessities must be imported from Australia.
_#_GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%
_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
_#_Unemployment: NA
_#_Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital
expenditures of $NA
_#_Exports: $NA;
commodities--copra;
partners--Australia
_#_Imports: $NA;
commodities--foodstuffs;
partners--Australia
_#_External debt: $NA
_#_Industrial production: growth rate NA%
_#_Electricity: 1,000 kW capacity; 2 million kWh produced, 2,980 kWh
per capita (1990)
_#_Industries: copra products
_#_Agriculture: gardens provide vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
_#_Economic aid: none
_#_Currency: Australian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Australian dollar
($A) = 100 cents
_#_Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2834 (January
1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905
(1986), 1.4269 (1985)
_#_Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
_*_Communications
_#_Ports: none; lagoon anchorage only
_#_Airports: 1 airfield with permanent-surface runway, 1,220-2,439 m;
airport on West Island is a link in service between Australia and South
Africa
_#_Telecommunications: 250 radios (1985); linked by telephone,
telex, and facsimile communications via satellite with Australia;
stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV
_*_Defense Forces
_#_Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
_%_
_@_Colombia
_*_Geography
_#_Total area: 1,138,910 km2; land area: 1,038,700 km2; includes Isla
de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank
_#_Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of
Montana
_#_Land boundaries: 7,408 km total; Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km,
Panama 225 km, Peru 2,900, Venezuela 2,050 km
_#_Coastline: 3,208 km total (1,448 km North Pacific Ocean;
1,760 Caribbean Sea)
_#_Maritime claims:
Continental shelf: not specified;
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;