(CBS)
There are 27 coral islands in the group.
Captain William Keeling discovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited until the 19th century.
From the 1820s to 1978, members of the Clunie-Ross family controlled the islands and the copra produced from local coconuts.
Annexed by the UK in 1857, the Cocos Islands 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.
Source: CIA World Fact Book 
(CBS)
596 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0% (2007 est.)
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Net migration rate: NA
Infant mortality rate: total: NA male: NA female: NA
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Cocos Islander(s) adjective: Cocos Islander
Ethnic groups: Europeans, Cocos Malays
Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)
Languages: Malay (Cocos dialect), English
Literacy: NA
(AP)
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $NA
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others
Unemployment rate: 60% (2000 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA
Agriculture - products: vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Industries: copra products and tourism
Exports: $NA
Exports - commodities: copra
Exports - partners: Australia (2006)
Imports: $NA
Imports - commodities: foodstuffs
Imports - partners: Australia (2006)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency (code): Australian dollar (AUD)
Exchange rates: Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
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