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| 1. CIA World Factbook 2002 | ||
Cook Islands
Introduction Cook Islands
-------------------------
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
----------------------
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the
South Pacific Ocean, about one-half
of the way from Hawaii to New
Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 240 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 240 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 NM or to the
edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: low coral atolls in north; volcanic,
hilly islands in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 17.39%
permanent crops: 13.04%
other: 69.57% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (November to March)
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
agreements: Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of
the Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of
the selected agreements
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
-------------------
Population: 20,811 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA%
Population growth rate: NA% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Sex ratio: NA
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ NA
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander
Ethnic groups: Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%,
Polynesian and European 7.7%,
Polynesian and non-European 7.7%,
European 2.4%, other 0.9%
Religions: Christian (majority of populace are
members of the Cook Islands
Christian Church)
Languages: English (official), Maori
Literacy: definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Cook Islands
-----------------------
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
Government type: self-governing parliamentary
democracy
Capital: Avarua
Administrative divisions: none
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)
National holiday: Constitution Day, first Monday in
August (1965)
Constitution: 4 August 1965
Legal system: based on New Zealand law and English
common law
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch: 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
note: on 12 February 2002, Prime
Minister Terepai MAOATE was ousted
following a vote of no-confidence; a
four-party coalition is the third
government since 1999
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
head of government: Prime Minister
Dr. Robert WOONTON (since 12
February 2002); Deputy Prime
Minister Sir Geoffrey HENRY (since
12 February 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime
minister; collectively responsible
to Parliament
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)
note: the House of Ariki (chiefs)
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
12, DAP 12, NAP 1
Judicial branch: High Court
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]
Political pressure groups and NA
leaders:
International organization ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO,
participation: ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS
(associate), 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 none (self-governing in free
US: association with New Zealand)
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
--------------------
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.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $105
million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,000
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17%
industry: 7.8%
services: 75.2% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.2% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 8,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 29%, industry 15%,
services 56%
note: shortage of skilled labor
(1995)
Unemployment rate: 13% (1996)
Budget: revenues: $28 million
expenditures: $27 million, including
capital expenditures of $3.3 million
(FY00/01 est.)
Industries: fruit processing, tourism, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 24 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 22.32 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes,
beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro,
coffee; pigs, poultry
Exports: $9.1 million (f.o.b., 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)
Imports: $50.7 million (c.i.f., 2000)
Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber,
capital goods
Imports - partners: NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia
6%, Japan 2% (2000)
Debt - external: $141 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $13.1 million (1995); note - New
Zealand continues to furnish the
greater part
Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code: NZD
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)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications Cook Islands
---------------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 5,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1994)
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)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 14,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus eight low-power repeaters)
(1997)
Televisions: 4,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .ck
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (2000)
Internet users: NA
Transportation Cook Islands
---------------------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 320 km (1992)
paved: NA
unpaved: NA
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Avarua, Avatiu
Airports: 7 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2001)
Military Cook Islands
---------------------
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of New
Zealand, in consultation with the
Cook Islands and at its request
Transnational Issues Cook Islands
---------------------------------
Disputes - international: none
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