1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Introduction
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. Residents chose self-government with free association with New Zealand in 1965. The emigration of Cook Islanders to New Zealand in large numbers and resulting loss of skilled labor and government deficits are continuing problems.
Geography
Area
total: 240 sq km land: 240 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; moderated by trade winds
Coastline
120 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Environment--current issues
NA
Environment--international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geographic coordinates
21 14 S, 159 46 W
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 9% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 78% (1993 est.)
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 hazards
typhoons (November to March)
Natural resources
NEGL
Terrain
low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
22.35 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
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 (1999 est.)
Languages
English (official), Maori
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 71.14 years male: 69.2 years female: 73.1 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
NA
Nationality
noun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander
Net migration rate
-6.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
20,200 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
1.04% (1999 est.)
Religions
Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands Christian Church)
Total fertility rate
3.17 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none
Capital
Avarua
Constitution
4 August 1965
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands
Data code
CW
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, in consultation with the Cook Islands
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Jon JONESSEN (since NA January 1998), representative of New Zealand head of government: Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey A. HENRY (since 1 February 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1 February 1989) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister
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
Government type
self-governing parliamentary democracy
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), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Judicial branch
High Court Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party [Sir Geoffrey
Legal system
based on New Zealand law and English common law
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 6 March 1994 (next to be held by June 1999) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--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
National holiday
Constitution Day, 4 August
Suffrage
NA years of age; universal adult
Economy
Agriculture--products
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee
Budget
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Currency
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Debt--external
$160 million (1994)
Economic aid--recipient
$13.1 million (1995); note?New Zealand furnishes the greater part
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, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit-processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In 1996, the government declared bankruptcy, citing a $120 million public debt. Efforts to exploit tourism potential and expanding the mining and fishing industries have not been enough to adequately deal with the financial crisis. In an effort to stem further erosion of the economy, the government slashed public service salaries by 50%, condensed the number of government ministries from 52 to 22, reduced the number of civil servants by more than half, began selling government assets, and closed all overseas diplomatic posts except for the one in New Zealand.
Electricity--consumption
15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
15 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.8560 (January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994)
Exports
$4.2 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
Exports--commodities
copra, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Exports--partners
NZ 80%, Japan, Hong Kong (1993)
Fiscal year
1 April--31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity--$79 million (1994 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 17% industry: 6% services: 77% (FY90/91)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$4,000 (1994 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$85 million (c.i.f., 1994)
Imports--commodities
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Imports--partners
NZ 49%, Italy, Australia (1993)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
fruit processing, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.6% (1994 est.)
Labor force
6,601 (1993)
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry 15%, other 4% (1981)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1
Radios
13,000 (1994 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
2 (in addition, eight low-power repeaters provide good coverage on the island of Rarotonga) (1997)
Televisions
3,500 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Airports
7 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 187 km paved: 35 km unpaved: 152 km (1980 est.) Ports and harbors: Avarua, Avatiu
Merchant marine
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,310 GRT/2,181 DWT (1998 est.)
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military--note
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none