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| Background: | Scattered over more than three-quarters of a million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs. |
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| Geography |
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| Location: | Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia |
| Geographic coordinates: | 18 00 S, 152 00 E |
| Map references: | Oceania |
| Area: | total: less than 3 sq km
land: less than 3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 780,000 sq km, with the Willis Islets the most important |
| Area—comparative: | NA |
| Land boundaries: | 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 (or cays) |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m |
| Natural resources: | NEGL |
| Land use: | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 0 sq km |
| Natural hazards: | occasional tropical cyclones |
| Environment—current issues: | no permanent fresh water resources |
| Geography—note: | important nesting area for birds and turtles |
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| People |
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| Population: | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.) |
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| Government |
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| Country name: | conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands |
| Dependency status: | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General’s Department |
| Legal system: | the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply |
| Executive branch: | administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General’s Department |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (territory of Australia) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (territory of Australia) |
| Flag description: | the flag of Australia is used |
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| Economy |
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| Economy—overview: | no economic activity |
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| Communications |
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| Communications—note: | there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland |
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| Transportation |
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| Ports and terminals: | none; offshore anchorage only |
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| Military |
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| Military—note: | defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors |
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| Transnational Issues |
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| Disputes—international: | none |
