1996 Edition

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

Location

21 14 S, 159 46 W -- Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly more than one times the size of Washington, DC

land area

240 sq km

total area

240 sq km

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Coastline

120 km

Environment

current issues

NA

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

natural hazards

typhoons (November to March)

Geographic coordinates

21 14 S, 159 46 W

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

4%

forest and woodland

0%

meadows and pastures

0%

other

74%

permanent crops

22%

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

negligible

Terrain

low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south

highest point

Te Manga 652 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

22.87 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%

Infant mortality rate

24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

English (official), Maori

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.1 years (1996 est.)

male

69.2 years

total population

71.14 years

Literacy

NA

Nationality

adjective

Cook Islander

noun

Cook Islander(s)

Net migration rate

-6.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

19,561 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.11% (1996 est.)

Religions

Christian (majority of populace members of Cook Islands Christian Church)

Sex ratio

all ages

NA male(s)/female

at birth

NA male(s)/female

under 15 years

NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.25 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

none

Capital

Avarua

Constitution

4 August 1965

Data code

CW

Diplomatic representation in US

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet; collectively responsible to Parliament

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Darryl DUNN (since NA 1994), representative of New Zealand was appointed by the New Zealand Government

head of government

Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey A. HENRY (since 1 February 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1 February 1989)

Flag

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

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)

International organization participation

AsDB, ESCAP (associate), ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO

Judicial branch

High Court

Legal system

NA

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Cook Islands

National holiday

Constitution Day, 4 August

Parliament

elections last held 6 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (25 total) Cook Islands Party 20, Democratic Party 3, Democratic Alliance Party 2

note

the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers

Political parties and leaders

Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY; Democratic Party, Sir Thomas DAVIS; Democratic Alliance Party, Norman GEORGE

Suffrage

NA years of age; universal adult

Type of government

self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands

US diplomatic representation

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Agriculture

copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, bananas, yams, taro

Budget

expenditures

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

revenues

$NA

Currency

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

note

in 1994, Cook Islands received $5.4 million in budget support and $3.3 million in project aid from New Zealand, the country's largest source of aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

Agriculture provides the economic base. The major export earners are fruit, copra, and clothing. Manufacturing activities are limited to a fruit-processing plant and several clothing factories. Economic development is hindered by the isolation of the islands from foreign markets and a lack of natural resources and good transportation links. A large trade deficit is annually made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, largely from New Zealand. Current economic development plans call for exploiting the tourism potential and expanding the mining and fishing industries. Despite these plans, the Cook Islands will continue to face severe financial problems.

Electricity

capacity

14,000 kW

consumption per capita

741 kWh (1993)

production

21 million kWh

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991)

Exports

$3.4 million (f.o.b., 1990)

commodities

copra, fresh and canned fruit, clothing

partners

NZ 80%, Japan

External debt

$160 million (1994)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $57 million (1993 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$3,000 (1993 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Imports

$50 million (c.i.f., 1990)

commodities

foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber

partners

NZ 49%, Japan, Australia, US

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fruit processing, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.2% (1990)

Labor force

5,810

by occupation

agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry 15%, other 4% (1981)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1

Radios

13,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

domestic

the 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

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones

4,180 (1994)

Television broadcast stations

1 studio and 8 low-powered repeaters to achieve good coverage on the island of Rarotonga

Televisions

3,500 (1995 est.) Defense

Airports

total

7

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

3

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

3 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

35 km

total

187 km

unpaved

152 km (1980 est.)

Merchant marine

total

1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,464 GRT/2,181 DWT (1995 est.)

Ports

Avarua, Avatiu

Railways

0 km