Location:
Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia

Geographic coordinates:
18 00 S, 152 00 E

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total: 3 sq km less than
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 3 sq km less than
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 780,000 sq km (300,000 sq mi) with the Willis Islets the most important
country comparison to the world: 253

Area - comparative:
about four times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
3,095 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive fishing zone country ranks ]

Climate:
tropical

Terrain:
sand and coral reefs and islands (cays)

Elevation:
0 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean
9 highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island

Natural resources:
fish

Land use:
agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 0% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 100% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
occasional tropical cyclones

Environment - current issues:
no permanent freshwater resources; damaging activities include coral mining, destructive fishing practices (overfishing, blast fishing)

Geography - note:
important nesting area for birds and turtles