(self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Introduction ::Cook Islands
Background:
Named after Captain COOK, who
sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888.
By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in
1965, residents chose self-government in free association with New
Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government
deficits are continuing problems.
Geography ::Cook Islands
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 236 sq km
country comparison to the world: 214
land:
236 sq km
water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative:
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
120 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
Current Weather
tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March
Terrain:
low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Te Manga 652 m
Natural resources:
NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops:
8.33%
other:
75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
typhoons (November to March)
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
Geography - note:
the northern Cook Islands
are seven low-lying, sparsely populated, coral atolls; the southern
Cook Islands, where most of the population lives, consist of eight
elevated, fertile, volcanic isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at
67 sq km
People ::Cook Islands
Population:
11,488 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 1,588/female 1,403)
15-64 years:
64.4% (male 3,820/female 3,583)
65 years and over:
9.5% (male 536/female 558) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.2 years
male:
30.5 years
female:
31.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-3.256% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 232
Birth rate:
15.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Death rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 74% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
-0.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.046 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.96 male(s)/female
total population:
1.07 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.33 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 117
male:
19.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
12.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.47 years
country comparison to the world: 93
male:
71.69 years
female:
77.38 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.43 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective:
Cook Islander
Ethnic groups:
Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%, other 6.5% (2001 census)
Religions:
Cook Islands Christian
Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic 16.8%, Seventh-Day Adventists 7.9%, Church
of Latter Day Saints 3.8%, other Protestant 5.8%, other 4.2%,
unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census)
Languages:
English (official), Maori
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population:
95%
male:
NA
female:
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male:
10 years
female:
10 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
0.2% of GDP (2001)
country comparison to the world: 182
People - note:
2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017
Government ::Cook Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form:
Cook Islands
former:
Harvey Islands
Dependency status:
self-governing in free
association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for
internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external
affairs and defense in consultation with the Cook Islands
Government type:
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Avarua
geographic coordinates:
21 12 S, 159 46 W
time difference:
UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
none (became
self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and
has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral
action)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
Constitution:
4 August 1965
Legal system:
based on New Zealand law and English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (adult)
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen
ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) represented by Sir Frederick
GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner Linda TE
PUNI (since 3 June 2010)
head of government:
Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Robert WIGMORE (since 23 December 2009)
cabinet:
Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament
elections:
the
monarchy is hereditary; the UK representative appointed by the monarch;
the New Zealand high commissioner appointed by the New Zealand
Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes prime
minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament
consists of a House of Ariki, or upper house, made up of traditional
leaders and a Legislative Assembly, or lower house, (24 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
note:the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence but has no legislative powers
elections:
last held on 26 September 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
election results:
percent of vote by party - Demo 51.9%, CIP 45.5%, independent 2.7%; seats by party - Demo 15, CIP 8, independent 1
Judicial branch:
High Court
Political parties and leaders:
Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]; Democratic Party or Demo [Dr. Terepai MAOATE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes)
other:
various groups lobbying for political change
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of
the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white
five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of
the flag
Economy ::Cook Islands
Economy - overview:
Like many other South Pacific
island nations, the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by
the isolation of the country from foreign markets, the limited size of
domestic markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from
natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture, employing
more than one-quarter of the working population, provides the economic
base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Black pearls
are the Cook Islands' leading export. Manufacturing activities are
limited to fruit processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits
are offset by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid
overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, the country
lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated public service and
accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms, including the
sale of state assets, the strengthening of economic management, the
encouragement of tourism, and a debt restructuring agreement, have
rekindled investment and growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$183.2 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
GDP (official exchange rate):
$183.2 million (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.1% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,100 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 15.1%
industry:
9.6%
services:
75.3% (2004)
Labor force:
6,820 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 217
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 29%
industry:
15%
services:
56% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
13.1% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 139
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 65
Electricity - production:
31 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - consumption:
28.83 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Oil - imports:
495 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Current account balance:
$26.67 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 55
Exports:
$5.222 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 216
Exports - commodities:
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Imports:
$81.04 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 211
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Debt - external:
$141 million (1996 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Exchange rates:
NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.6204 (2009), 1.4151 (2008), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005)
Communications ::Cook Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
6,700 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 210
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6,700 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 212
Telephone system:
general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex
domestic:
individual
islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations,
microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands,
service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by
open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable
international:
country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
