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| Get A Large Static Flag | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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| Introduction | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Background:
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There are 27 coral islands in group. Captain William Keeling discovered islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited until 19th century. Annexed by UK in 1857, they were transferred to Australian Government in 1955. population on two inhabited islands generally is split between ethnic Europeans on West Island and ethnic Malays on Home Island. |
| Geography | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Location:
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Southeastern Asia, group of islands in Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka |
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Geographic coordinates:
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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 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 size of 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:
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exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical with high humidity, moderated by southeast trade winds for about nine months of 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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Total Population:
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630 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: NA%
male: NA% female: NA% |
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Life Expectancy:
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Population: NA years
male: NA years female: NA years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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NA children born/woman (2003 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 Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services |
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Government type:
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NA |
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Capital:
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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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NA |
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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 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 Australian governor general
elections: none; monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by governor general of Australia and represents monarch and Australia head of government: Administrator (nonresident) William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999) cabinet: NA |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats) |
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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 US:
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none (territory of Australia) |
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Diplomatic representation from US:
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none (territory of Australia) |
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Flag description:
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flag of Australia is used |
| Economy | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Economy - overview:
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Grown throughout islands, coconuts are sole cash crop. limited local gardens and fishing contribute to food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia. There is a limited tourist industry. |
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GDP:
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buying 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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buying power parity - $NA |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
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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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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, includes 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 (1999) |
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Imports:
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$NA |
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs |
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Imports - partners:
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Australia (1999) |
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Debt - external:
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$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 - 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997) |
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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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NA |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication system
domestic: NA international: 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 0, shortwave 0 (2000) |
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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 (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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1 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
| Military | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Military - note:
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defense is responsibility of Australia; territory does have a five-person police force |
| Transnational Issues | Cocos (Keeling) Islands |
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Disputes - international:
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none |