Country Profiles: Cook Islands

Cook Islands are located in Australia-Oceania.

Named after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965, residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems.
CIA World Factbook

With an area of 236 sq km, it is 1.3 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Cook Islands are surrounded by the South Pacific Ocean. It is mostly low coral atolls in north and volcanic, hilly islands in south.



People who live in the Cook Islands are called Cook Islanders, which is also an adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2012, there are 10,447 people in Cook Islands. The ethnic group that resides in Cook Islands is mostly Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) at 87.7%. English is the official language, but Maori is also spoken there. Protestants make up approximately 69.6% of the population, while Roman Catholics (16.8%) and Mormons (3.8%) make up most of the rest.



The Cook Islands were once known as the Harvey Islands. The capital is Avarua. Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in free association with New Zealand. The country has the right to move to full independence at any time. The constitution can be found here through Constitution Finder. The current prime minister is Henry Puna. Information about the leaders of Cook Islands' government can be found here. The currency is the NZ dollar (abbreviated NZD), which stands at 1.289 NZD per USD as of 2012.



All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook.
Cook Islands, CIA World Factbook

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Country Profiles: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Cocos (Keeling) Islands is located in Australia-Oceania.

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.
CIA World Factbook

. With an area of 14 sq km, it is about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka. It is mostly flat, low-lying coral atolls.

People who live on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are called Cocos Islanders, which is also an adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2010, there are 596 people on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The ethnic groups that reside in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are Europeans and Cocos Malays. Malay (Cocos dialect) and English are spoken there. Sunni Muslims make up approximately 80% of the population.

The country's official name is the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The capital is West Island. Since it is a territory of Australia, there is no constitution. The currency is the Australian dollar(abbreviated AUD), which stands at 0.9695 AUD per USD as of 2011.

The flag of Australia is used for the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

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Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Cocos (Keeling) Islands, CIA World Factbook

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Country Profiles: Christmas Island

Christmas Island is located in Australia-Oceania.

Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Cia World Factbook

With an area of 135 sq km, it is three quarters the size of Washington, DC.

Christmas Island is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia. It is mostly steep cliffs along the coast that rise abruptly to a central plateau.

People who live on Christmas Island are called Christmas Islanders, while Christmas Island is the adjective used to describe something from this country. As of July 2012, there are 1,496 people in Christmas Island. The ethnic groups that reside in Christmas Island are mostly Chinese (70%), with some European (20%) and Malay (10%). The official language is English, but Chinese and Malay are also spoken there. Buddhists make up approximately 36% of the population, while Muslims (25%) and Christians (18%) make up the rest.

The country's official name is the Territory of Christmas Island. The capital is The Settlement. Christmas Island is a territory of Australia, so there is not a constitution. The currency is the Australian dollar (abbreviated AUD), which stands at 0.9695 AUD per USD as of 2011.

All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Christmas Island

Christmas Island, CIA World Factbook

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Country Profiles: Australia

Australia is a country and a continent. Though aboriginal settlers arrived from SE Asia 40,000 years before European settlers, the country was first claimed in 1770 by Capt. James Cook in the name of Great Britain. With an area of 7,741,220 sq km, Australia is slightly smaller than the U.S. contiguous 48 states.


Australia is surrounded by the Indian Ocean. It is composed of mostly low plateau with deserts. There are fertile plains in the southeast.





People who live in Australia are called Australians, which is also the adjective used for items from this country. English is the most-spoken language in Australia at 78,5%. Chinese (2.5%), Italian (1.6%), Greek (1.3%), Arabic (1.2%) and Vietnamese (1%) are also spoken. Most of the population is Protestant (27.4%), followed closely by Catholic (25.8%). Eastern Orthodox (2.7%), other forms of Christianity (7.9%), Buddhism (2.1%), and Islam (1.7%) are also practiced.


The country's official name is the Commonwealth of Australia. The capital is Canberra, and the country is composed of 6 states and 2 territories. The Constitution was written in July 1900 and took effect in January 1901. It can be found here through Constitution Finder. The current leaders of Australia are Governor Gen. Quentin Alice Louise Bryce and Prime Minister Julia Eileen Gillard. Information about the current leaders of Australia's government can be found here. The currency is Australian dollar (abbreviated AUD), which stands at 1.0902 AUD per USD as of 2010.





All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Australia Government Site

Australia, CIA World Factbook

Background Note: Australia, U.S. Department of State

Australia 2010 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, U.S. Department of State.

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