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