Country Profile: Ashmore and Cartier Islands

The Ashmore and Cartier Islands are an uninhabited territory located in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor Island. Governed as part of Australia, they were annexed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with administrative oversight currently provided by the federal government. The islands are notable for their tropical climate and diverse marine environment, while their economy is primarily based on access for Indonesian fishermen. Environmental challenges include illegal wildlife killing and overfishing.

Geography

The Ashmore and Cartier Islands are situated in southeastern Asia, specifically in the Indian Ocean, approximately 840 km west of Darwin, Australia, and 610 km north of Broome. Comprised of Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island, these islands cover a total area of only 5 square kilometers. Their terrain is predominantly low-lying with sand and coral formations.

74.1 km of coastline.
12 nm territorial sea claim.
200 nm exclusive fishing zone.

People and Society

There are no permanent inhabitants on the Ashmore and Cartier Islands. Access is primarily restricted to Indonesian fishermen who are allowed limited interaction with the environment, notably at Ashmore Reef's West Island.

0 permanent residents.
Indonesian fishermen can access fresh water and seek shelter.

Environment

The islands face various environmental concerns, including illegal killing of protected species, overfishing, and impacts from climate change such as sea-level rise and ocean acidification. The tropical climate fosters a unique marine ecosystem but also poses environmental vulnerabilities.

0% of land is used for agriculture (2018 estimate).
Significant challenges include marine debris and changes in sea temperatures.

Government

Officially known as the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands, these islands are a dependency of Australia administered from Canberra. The legal framework is derived from Australian federal laws and those of the Northern Territory where applicable.

Governed under Australian law.
The flag of Australia is used.

Military and Security

The defense and security of Ashmore and Cartier Islands fall under Australia's jurisdiction. There is no local military presence, and any security matters are managed by the Australian defense forces.

Defense responsibility lies with Australia.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Area	5 sq km	Total area of the islands
Population	0	No permanent inhabitants
Coastline	74.1 km	Length of the coastline
Territorial Sea	12 nm	Claim of the territorial sea
Exclusive Fishing Zone	200 nm	Fishing area claim
Agricultural Land	0%	No agricultural land (2018 estimate)
Climate	Tropical	Climate classification of the islands