2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

236 sq km

total

236 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

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

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, Ozone Layer Protection

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

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

16.67%

other

75% (2005)

permanent crops

8.33%

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and 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

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.1% (male 1,704/female 1,508) 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 3,898/female 3,664) 65 years and over: 9.2% (male 540/female 556) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

15.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

7.22 deaths/1,000 population NA

Education expenditures

0.2% of GDP (2001)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

12.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

19.88 deaths/1,000 live births

total

16.33 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), Maori

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.38 years (2010 est.)

male

71.69 years

total population

74.47 years

Literacy

definition: NA

female

NA

male

NA

total population

95%

Median age

female

31.9 years (2010 est.)

male

30.5 years

total

31.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Cook Islander

noun

Cook Islander(s)

People - note

2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017

Population

11,488 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

-3.256% (2010 est.)

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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

10 years (2005)

male

10 years

total

10 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.046 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female

total population

1.07 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.43 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

74% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

none

Capital

geographic coordinates

21 12 S, 159 46 W

name

Avarua

time difference

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

Constitution

4 August 1965

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Cook Islands

former

Harvey Islands

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)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) represented by Sir Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner Linda TE PUNI (since 3 June 2010)

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; the UK representative appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner 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 Henry PUNA (since 30 November 2010)

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

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Judicial branch

High Court

Legal system

based on New Zealand law and English common law

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of a House of Ariki, or upper house, made up of traditional leaders and a Legislative Assembly, or lower house, (24 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) note: the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence but has no legislative powers

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CIP 16, Demo 8

elections

last held on 17 November 2010 (next to be held by 2014)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Tepaeru Te RITO/Thomas DAVIS note: adopted 1982; as prime minister, Sir Thomas DAVIS composed the anthem; his wife, a tribal chief, wrote the lyrics

name

"Te Atua Mou E" (To God Almighty)

National holiday

Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)

Political parties and leaders

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes)

other

various groups lobbying for political change

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal (adult)

Agriculture - products

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

Current account balance

$26.67 million (2005)

Debt - external

$141 million (1996 est.)

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 more than one-quarter of the working population, provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Black pearls are the Cook Islands' 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

28.83 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

31 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4015 (2009), 1.4151 (2008), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006)

Exports

$5.222 million (2005)

Exports - commodities

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

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.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$81.04 million (2005)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2002)

Industries

fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.1% (2005 est.)

Labor force

6,820 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

29%

industry

15%

services

56% (1995)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

495 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

13.1% (2005)

Broadcast media

1 privately-owned TV station broadcasts from Rarotonga providing a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs; a satellite program package is available; 6 radio stations broadcast with 1 reportedly reaching all of the islands (2009)

Internet country code

.ck

Internet hosts

2,521 (2010)

Internet users

6,000 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

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

6,900 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

7,000 (2009)

Airports

10 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 1, cargo 27, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 5

foreign-owned

23 (Egypt 1, Germany 1, Latvia 1, Lithuania 2, former Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 6, NZ 1, Russia 1, Sweden 3, Turkey 4, UK 2) (2010)

total

34

Ports and terminals

Avatiu

Roadways

paved

33 km

total

320 km

unpaved

287 km (2003)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,272 females age 16-49: 2,222 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

115 (2010 est.)

male

136

Military - note

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

Military branches

no regular military forces; National Police Department (2009)

Disputes - international

none page last updated on January 19, 2011 ======================================================================