2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

none

Age structure

0-14 years: 34.1% (male 2,718/female 2,388) 15-64 years: 59.5% (male 4,531/female 4,395) 65 years and over: 6.4% (male 489/female 469) (2001 census)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

9 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m

1 (2006)

Area

land

236.7 sq km

total

236.7 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

21 births/1,000 population (2001 census)

Budget

expenditures

$69.05 million; including capital expenditures of $5.744 million (FY05/06)

revenues

$70.95 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

21 12 S, 159 46 W

name

Avarua

time difference

UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March

Coastline

120 km

Constitution

4 August 1965

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Cook Islands

former

Harvey Islands

Currency (code)

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code

NZD

Current account balance

$26.67 million (2005)

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

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 8 February, 2007

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, employing about 70% of the working population, provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Black pearls are the Cook Island's leading export. 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

26.04 million kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

28 million kWh (2004)

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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%, other 6.5% (2001 census)

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002)

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 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since 6 September 2005), 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 Jim MARURAI (since 14 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Terepai MAOATE (since 9 August 2005)

Exports

$5.222 million (2005)

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% (2004)

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

15.1%

industry

9.6%

services

75.3% (2004)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,100 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.1% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$183.2 million (2005 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$183.2 million (2005 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, where most of the population lives, consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at 67 sq km People Cook Islands

Government type

self-governing parliamentary democracy

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

$81.04 million (2005)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

Imports - partners

New Zealand 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2004)

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)

2.1% (2005 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AsDB, FAO, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Internet country code

.ck

Internet hosts

1,456 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2000)

Internet users

3,600 (2002) Transportation Cook Islands

Irrigated land

NA

Judicial branch

High Court

Labor force

6,820 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

29%

industry

15%

services

56% (1995)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

16.67%

other

75% (2005)

permanent crops

8.33%

Languages

English (official), Maori

Legal system

based on New Zealand law and English common law

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consisting of a lower house or Legislative Assembly with 25 seats (24 seats representing districts of the Cook Islands and one seat representing Cook Islanders living overseas; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and an upper house or House of Ariki made up of traditional leaders

election results

percent of vote by party - Demo 51.9%, CIP 45.5%, independent 2.7%; seats by party - Demo 15, CIP 8, independent 1

elections

last held 26 September 2006 (next to be held by 2011)

note

the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers

Life expectancy at birth

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Literacy

definition

NA

female

NA%

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

Median age

female

25.9 years (2001 census)

male

24.7 years

total

25.3 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3

foreign-owned

5 (Norway 1, NZ 1, Sweden 3) (2006)

total

6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 48,422 GRT/51,900 DWT

Military - note

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

Military branches

no regular military forces; Ministry of Police and Disaster Management (2005)

National holiday

Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)

Nationality

adjective

Cook Islander

noun

Cook Islander(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

typhoons (November to March)

Natural resources

NEGL

Oil - consumption

420 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004)

People - note

2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017 Government Cook Islands

Political parties and leaders

Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]; Democratic Party or Demo [Dr. Terepai MAOATE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

21,388 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

-1.2% between 1996-2001 (2001 census)

Ports and terminals

Avatiu Military Cook Islands

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios

14,000 (1997)

Religions

Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic 16.8%, Seventh-Day Adventists 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints 3.8%, other Protestant 5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census)

Roadways

paved

33 km

total

320 km

unpaved

287 km (2003)

Sex ratio

1.07 male(s)/female (2001 census)

Suffrage

NA years of age; universal adult

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

general assessment

Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex

international

country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

6,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,500 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004)

Televisions

4,000 (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

3.1 children born/woman (2001 census)

Unemployment rate

13.1% (2005)