Coral Sea Islands

Coral Sea Islands Territory

Australia and Oceania

Population

N/A

Area

3 km²

GDP

N/A

GDP Per Capita

N/A

Quick Facts

Currency

$Australian dollar(AUD)

Calling Code

+61

Timezone

UTC+07:00

Languages

English

Driving Side

left

Demonym

Christmas Islander

Background

The widely scattered Coral Sea Islands were first charted in 1803, but they were too small to host permanent human habitation. The 1870s and 1880s saw attempts at guano mining, but these were soon abandoned. The islands became an Australian territory in 1969, and the boundaries were extended in 1997. A small meteorological staff has operated on the Willis Islets since 1921, and several other islands host unmanned weather stations, beacons, and lighthouses. Much of the territory lies within national marine nature reserves.

Geography15

Location

Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia

Geographic coordinates

18 00 S, 152 00 E

Map references

Oceania

Area

total : 3 sq km less than
land: 3 sq km less than
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about four times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

3,095 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate

tropical

Terrain

sand and coral reefs and islands (cays)

Elevation

highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 9 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

fish

Land use

agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)

Natural hazards

occasional tropical cyclones

Geography - note

important nesting area for birds and turtles

People & Society1

Population

total: no permanent inhabitants

Government7

Country name

conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands
etymology: self-descriptive name to reflect the islands' position in the Coral Sea off the northeastern coast of Australia

Dependency status

territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport

Legal system

the common law system of Australia applies

Citizenship

see Australia

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: none (territory of Australia)

Flag

the flag of Australia is used

Military & Security1

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Australia

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