2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
none
Age structure
0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%
Agriculture - products
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
Airports
7 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2000 est.) Cook Islands Military
Area
total: 240 sq km land: 240 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
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. Cook Islands Geography
Budget
revenues: $25 million expenditures: $23 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 99/00)
Capital
Avarua
Climate
tropical; moderated by trade winds
Coastline
120 km
Constitution
4 August 1965
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands former: Harvey Islands
Currency
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code
NZD
Debt - external
$141 million (1996 est.)
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Disputes - international
none
Economic aid - recipient
$13.1 million (1995); note - New Zealand continues to furnish 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, the limited size of domestic 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 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.
Electricity - consumption
19.5 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production
21 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)
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, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Cook Islands People
Ethnic groups
Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.2502 (January 2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996)
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 Dr. Terepai MAOATE (since 18 November 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Norman GEORGE (since NA) 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 note: ten years of rule by the Cook Islands Party (CIP) came to an end 18 November 1999 with the resignation of Prime Minister Joe WILLIAMS; WILLIAMS had led a minority government since October 1999 when the New Alliance Party (NAP) left the government coalition and joined the main opposition Democratic Alliance Party (DAP); on 18 November 1999, DAP leader Dr. Terepai MAOATE was sworn in as prime minister
Exports
$3 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Exports - partners
Japan 42%, New Zealand 25%, US 9%, Australia 9% (1999)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March Cook Islands Communications
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 Cook Islands Economy
GDP
purchasing power parity - $100 million (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 18% industry: 9% services: 73% (1995)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
NA%
Geographic coordinates
21 14 S, 159 46 W
Government type
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Highways
total: 320 km (1992) paved: NA unpaved: NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
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 70%, Australia 8% (1999)
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)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
fruit processing, tourism, fishing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.6% (1999 est.)
International organization participation
ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Internet country code
.ck
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
3 (2000)
Internet users
NA Cook Islands Transportation
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
High Court
Labor force
6,601 (1993)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% (1995) note - shortage of skilled labor
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 9% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 78% (1993 est.)
Languages
English (official), Maori
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 NA June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CIP 12, DAP 12, NAP 1 note: the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers
Literacy
definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA% Cook Islands Government
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
Merchant marine
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,310 GRT/2,181 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (2000 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request Cook Islands Transnational Issues
National holiday
Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
Nationality
noun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander
Natural hazards
typhoons (November to March)
Natural resources
NEGL
Political parties and leaders
Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Tai CARPENTER]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP [Norman GEORGE]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Population
20,611 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Ports and harbors
Avarua, Avatiu
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
14,000 (1997)
Railways
0 km
Religions
Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands Christian Church)
Suffrage
NA years of age; universal adult
Telephone system
general assessment: NA 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 - main lines in use
5,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular
0 (1994)
Television broadcast stations
2 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
4,000 (1997)
Terrain
low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Unemployment rate
NA%
Waterways
none