Cocos Islands: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026

News •

Coral colony the size of three MCGs thriving off remote Australian island • Nov. 10, 2026, 5:04 PM ET (ABC News (Australia))

100 buses long: Scientists map one of the world's largest known coral colonies • Nov. 8, 2026, 12:00 PM ET (Phys.org)

Forgotten tradition of shadow puppetry returns to Cocos Islands • Oct. 17, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (ABC News (Australia))

Photos

Map showing Southeast Asia and northern Australia, with a highlighted box in the eastern Indian Ocean indicating the location of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, an Australian territory. Surrounding countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore are labeled for geographic context.

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Topics

Christmas Island Heard Island and McDonald Islands Ashmore and Cartier Islands Coral Sea Islands Singapore Philippines Greenland Maldives Isle of Man Seychelles

Island, New Caledonia.

Islands and Archipelagos