Cook Islands

Cook Islands

Introduction

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

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

21 14 S, 159 46 W

Map references

Oceania

Area

total: 236 sq km
country comparison to the world: 214 land:236 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area – comparative

1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

120 km

Maritime claims

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

Climate

tropical oceanic

moderated by trade winds

a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March

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: 16.67%
permanent crops:8.33%
other:75% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

Natural hazards

typhoons (November to March)

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

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 and Society

Nationality

noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective:Cook Islander

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

English (official), Maori

Religions

Protestant 69.6% (Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7.9%, other Protestant 5.8%), Roman Catholic 16.8%, Mormon 3.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census)

Population

11,124 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.1% (male 1,479/female 1,308)
15-64 years:65% (male 3,737/female 3,499)
65 years and over:9.9% (male 538/female 563) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 32 years
male:31.3 years
female:32.7 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-3.2% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 229

Birth rate

15.37 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Death rate

7.37 deaths/1,000 population NA (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

Urbanization

urban population: 75% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.048 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 (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 15.81 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 114 male:19.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female:12.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.7 years
country comparison to the world: 93 male:71.91 years
female:77.62 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.39 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

Health expenditures

4.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 151

Physicians density

1.1764 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
country comparison to the world: 94

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 99% of population
rural: 87% of population
total: 95% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1% of population
rural: 13% of population
total: 5% of population (2000)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:95%
male:NA
female:NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years
male:12 years
female:13 years (2010)

People – note

2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017

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

name: Avarua
geographic coordinates:21 12 S, 159 46 W
time difference:UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

common law similar to New Zealand common law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs)

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) represented by Sir Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001)

New Zealand High Commissioner John CARTER (since 29 July 2011)
head of government:Prime Minister Henry PUNA (since 30 November 2010)
cabinet:Cabinet chosen by the prime minister

collectively responsible to Parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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

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
elections:last held on 17 November 2010 (next to be held by 2014)
election results:percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – CIP 16, Demo 8

Judicial branch

High Court

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

International organization participation

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

National anthem

name: “Te Atua Mou E” (To God Almighty)
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

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, 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$183.2 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215

GDP (official exchange rate)

$183.2 million (2005 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

0.1% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$9,100 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 11.7%
industry:9.9%
services:78.5% (2008 est.)

Labor force

6,820 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 217

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 29%
industry:15%
services:56% (1995)

Unemployment rate

13.1% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 137

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Budget

revenues: $70.95 million
expenditures:$69.05 million (FY05/06)

Taxes and other revenues

38.7% of GDP (FY05/06)
country comparison to the world: 49

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1% of GDP (FY05/06)
country comparison to the world: 30

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.1% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

Agriculture – products

copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee

pigs, poultry

Industries

fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 145

Electricity – production

31 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

Electricity – consumption

29.76 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164

Oil – consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164

Oil – imports

464 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

Current account balance

$26.67 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 60

Exports

$5.222 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 216

Exports – commodities

copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee

fish

pearls and pearl shells

clothing

Imports

$81.04 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 212

Imports – commodities

foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

Debt – external

$141 million (1996 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Exchange rates

NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
1.3874 (2010)
1.6002 (2009)
1.3811 (2007)
1.5408 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

10 (2010)
country comparison to the world:158

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)

Roadways

total: 320 km
country comparison to the world: 201 paved:33 km
unpaved:287 km (2003)

Merchant marine

total: 34
country comparison to the world: 82 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)

Ports and terminals

Avatiu

Military

Military branches

no regular military forces

National Police Department (2009)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,198
females age 16-49:2,156 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 127
female:107 (2010 est.)

Military – note

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

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none