Editing Cocos (Keeling) Islands (section)

== Economy ==
The population of the islands is approximately 600. There is a small and growing tourist industry focused on water-based or nature activities. In 2016, a beach on Direction Island was named the best beach in Australia by [[Brad Farmer]], an Aquatic and Coastal Ambassador for Tourism Australia and co-author of ''101 Best Beaches 2017''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jackson|first1=Belinda|title=Cossies Beach, Cocos (Keeling) Islands: Beach expert Brad Farmer names Australia's best beach 2017|url=http://www.traveller.com.au/cossies-beach-wa-brad-farmers-best-beach-in-australia-in-2017-gt354u|access-date=4 December 2016|work=traveller.com.au|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|date=4 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203155158/http://www.traveller.com.au/cossies-beach-wa-brad-farmers-best-beach-in-australia-in-2017-gt354u|archive-date=3 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Bonnor|first1=James|title=Australia appoints Brad Farmer to beach ambassador role|url=http://www.surfersvillage.com/content/australia-appoints-brad-farmer-beach-ambassador|website=www.surfersvillage.com|publisher=XTreme Video|access-date=4 December 2016|date=22 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220121210/http://www.surfersvillage.com/content/australia-appoints-brad-farmer-beach-ambassador|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but most food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia or elsewhere.

The Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, [[stevedore]]s, and [[lightering|lighterage]] worker operations. Tourism employs others. The unemployment rate was 6.7% in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stat.abs.gov.au/itt/r.jsp?RegionSummary&region=90102&dataset=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS&geoconcept=REGION&datasetASGS=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS&datasetLGA=ABS_REGIONAL_LGA&regionLGA=REGION&regionASGS=REGION|title=Cocos (Keeling) Islands : Region Data Summary|access-date=18 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015212025/http://stat.abs.gov.au/itt/r.jsp?RegionSummary&region=90102&dataset=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS&geoconcept=REGION&datasetASGS=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS&datasetLGA=ABS_REGIONAL_LGA&regionLGA=REGION&regionASGS=REGION|archive-date=15 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 2 April 2025, United States President [[Donald Trump]] announced a 10% [[Tariffs in the second Trump administration|tariff]] on the Cocos Islands.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lendon |first1=Brad |title=An uninhabited island, a military base and a ‘desolate’ former whaling station. Trump’s tariffs include unlikely targets |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/03/business/trump-tariffs-uninhabited-islands-intl-hnk/index.html |work=CNN |date=3 April 2025 |language=en}}</ref>