Edition 2003 — Cook Islands

Administrative divisions

none

Age structure

0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry

Airports

7 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002) Military Cook Islands

Area

land: 240 sq km
total: 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. Geography Cook Islands

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures: $27 million, including capital expenditures of $3.3 million (FY 00/01 est.)
revenues: $28 million

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

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

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 and defense, 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 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

$13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater part (1995)

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 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.

Electricity - consumption

25.51 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

27.43 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point: Te Manga 652 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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 - 2.3535 (January 2002), 2.3776 (2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997)

Executive branch

cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Kurt MEYER (since NA), representative of New Zealand
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 majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes prime minister
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Robert WOONTON (since 12 February 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Ngamau MUNOKOA (since 5 November 2003)

Exports

$9.1 million (2000)

Exports - commodities

copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing

Exports - partners

Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2000)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Cook Islands

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $105 million (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 17%
industry: 7.8%
services: 75.2% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.1% (2001 est.)

Geographic coordinates

21 14 S, 159 46 W

Geography - note

the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated, coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles where most of the populace lives People Cook Islands

Government type

self-governing parliamentary democracy

Highways

paved: 33 km
total: 320 km
unpaved: 287 km (2000)

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

highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA%

Imports

$50.7 million (2000)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

Imports - partners

NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2000)

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

1% (2002)

Industries

fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts

Infant mortality rate

female: NA%
male: NA%
total: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.2% (2000 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS (associate), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Internet country code

.ck

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2000)

Internet users

NA Transportation Cook Islands

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

High Court

Labor force

8,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56%
note: shortage of skilled labor (1995)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 17.39%
other: 69.57% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 13.04%

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)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CIP 12, DAP 12, NAP 1
elections: last held 16 June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004)
note: the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers

Life expectancy at birth

female: NA years (2003 est.)
male: NA years
total population: NA years

Literacy

definition: NA
female: NA% Government Cook Islands
male: NA%
total population: 95%

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

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request Transnational Issues Cook Islands

National holiday

Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)

Nationality

adjective: Cook Islander
noun: Cook Islander(s)

Natural hazards

typhoons (November to March)

Natural resources

NEGL

Oil - consumption

450 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Geoffrey HENRY]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP [Norman GEORGE]; Cook Islands National Party or CIN [Teariki HEATHER]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

21,008 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

NA% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Avarua, Avatiu

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

14,000 (1997)

Railways