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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.

[edit] Geography

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 agreements 

party to: Biodiversity, Climate 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

[edit] People

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/AIDS 

NA

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%

[edit] Government

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
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 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)
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 and maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers

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 leaders 

NA

International organization participation 

ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, 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 US 

none (self-governing in free 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

[edit] Economy

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: 8%
services: 75% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line 

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

lowest 10%: NA%
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 (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 (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 (1995)

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

[edit] Communications

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

[edit] Transportation

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 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways 

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

[edit] Military

Military - note 

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

[edit] Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

none