Cook Islands

Internet country code

.ck

Internet hosts

1,456 (2006)

Internet users

3,600 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Telephone system

general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex 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: 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)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $70.95 million expenditures: $69.05 million; including capital expenditures of $5.744 million (FY00/01 est.)

Currency (code)

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Current account balance

$26.67 million

Debt - external

$141 million (1996 est.)

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

34.46 million kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

28 million kWh (2003)

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001)

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

$183.2 million

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$183.2 million (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 15.1% industry: 9.6% services: 75.3% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,100 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.1% (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

Imports - partners

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

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 (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

400 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2003)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

13.1% (2005)

Area

total: 236.7 sq km land: 236.7 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

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

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% permanent crops: 8.33% other: 75% (2005)

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

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Natural hazards

typhoons (November to March)

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

none

Capital

name: Avarua geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W 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

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 head of government: Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Terepai MAOATE (since 9 August 2005) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament 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

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, AsDB, FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, 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 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 elections: last held 26 September 2006 (next to be held by 2011) 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 note: the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers

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

NA

Suffrage

NA years of age; universal adult

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.

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; Ministry of Police and Disaster Management (2005)

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)

Birth rate

21 births/1,000 population (2001 census)

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

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

total: NA male: NA female: NA

Languages

English (official), Maori

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA male: NA female: NA

Literacy

definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%

Median age

total: 25.3 years male: 24.7 years female: 25.9 years (2001 census)

Nationality

noun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander

People - note

2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017

Population

21,388 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

-1.2% between 1996-2001 (2001 census)

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)

Sex ratio

107 male(s)/female (2001 census)

Total fertility rate

3.1 children born/woman (2001 census)

Disputes - international

none

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)

Merchant marine

total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 48,422 GRT/51,900 DWT by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3 foreign-owned: 5 (Norway 1, NZ 1, Sweden 3) (2006)

Ports and terminals

Avatiu

Roadways

total: 320 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 287 km (2003)