1982 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1982 (Wikisource)
Geography
Coastline
about 120 km
Limits of territorial waters
3 nm
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
81.3% Polynesian (full blood), 7.7% Polynesian and European, 7.7% Polynesian and other, 2.4% European, 0.9% other
Nationality
noun—Cook Islanders); adjective—Cook Islander
Population
17,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 0.0%
Religion
Christian, majority of populace members of Cook Islands Christian Church
Government
Branches
New Zealand Governor General appoints Representative to Cook Islands, who represents the Queen and the New Zealand Government; Representative appoints the Prime Minister; Parliament of 22 members, popularly elected; House of Arikis (chiefs), 15 members, appointed by Representative, an advisory body only
Capital
Rarotonga
Elections
every five years, latest in March 1978 Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey Henry; Democratic Party, Dr. Thomas Davis Voting strength (1978): Democratic Party, 16 seats, Cook Islands Party, 6 seats
Government leader
Prime Minister Dr. Thomas (Tom) DAVIS
Official name
Cook Islands
Suffrage
universal adult
Type
self-governing in "free association" with New Zealand; Cook Islands Government fully responsible for internal affairs and has right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with Cook Islands Government
Economy
Agriculture
export crops include copra, citrus fruits, pineapples, tomatoes, and bananas, with subsistence crops of yams and taro
Aid
Australia (1980-83), $2.0 million; Australia and New Zealand (1977), $6.5 million
Electric power
4,000 kW capacity (1981); 13 million kWh produced (1981), 733 kWh per capita
Exports
$3.0 million (1977); copra, fresh and canned fruit
GDP
$15.4 million (1977), $860 per capita (1978)
Government budget
$121 million (1977)
Imports
$16.8 million (1977); foodstuffs, textiles, fuels
Industry
fruit processing
Major trade partners
(1970) exports—98% New Zealand, imports—76% New Zealand, 7% Japan
Monetary conversion rate
1 New Zealand$=US$1.01 (1978/79)
Communications
Airfields
6 total, 5 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
no major transport aircraft
Highways
187 km total (1980); 35 km paved, 35 km gravel, 84 km improved earth, 33 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways
none
Ports
2 minor
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
6 AM, no FM, and no TV stations; 7,000 radio receivers, and 1,186 telephones (1.3 per 100 popl.)