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 half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references:
Oceania
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
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
party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection 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, where most of the population lives, consist of eight elevated,
fertile, volcanic isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at 67 sq km
People
Cook Islands
Population:
21,923 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Median age:
total: 25.3 years
male: 24.7 years female: 25.9 years (2001 census)
Population growth rate:
NA
Birth rate:
21 births/1,000 population
(2001 census)
Death rate:
NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
total population: 1.07
male(s)/female (2001 census)
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA
male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.1 children born/woman (2008
est.)
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:
Cook Island Maori (Polynesian)
87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%, other 6.5% (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)
Languages:
English (official), Maori
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 95% male: NA% female:
NA%
People - note:
2001 census counted a resident
population of 15,017
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:
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:
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 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner Brian DONNELLY
(since 21 February 2008), 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: 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
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consisting
of a Legislative Assembly (or lower house) (24 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms) and a House of Ariki (or upper
house) made up of traditional leaders note: the House of Ariki
advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence but
has no legislative powers 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
Judicial branch:
High Court
Political parties and leaders:
Cook Islands Party or CIP
[Henry PUNA]; Democratic Party or Demo [Dr. Terepai MAOATE]
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
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, employing
about one-third 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.
copra, papayas, fresh and
canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Exports - partners:
Australia 34%, Japan 27%, NZ
25%, US 8% (2006)
Imports:
$81.04 million (2005)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels,
timber, capital goods
Imports - partners:
NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%,
Australia 6% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
$13.1 million; note - New
Zealand continues to furnish the greater part (1995)
Debt - external:
$141 million (1996 est.)
Currency (code):
NZ dollar (NZD)
Currency code:
NZD
Exchange rates:
NZ dollars per US dollar -
1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications
Cook Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
6,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,500 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment:
Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email,
fax, and Telex 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
international: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
