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
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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
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 half way between Hawaii and 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
People Cook Islands
Age structure 0-14 years: (male 1,834/female 1,624)
15-64 years: (male 3,973/female 3,747)
65 years and over: (male 542/female 551)
Birth rate 16.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate NA (2008 est.)
Education expenditures 0.2% of GDP (2001)
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 (2008 est.)
Languages English (official), Maori
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)
Literacy definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Median age total: 29.8 years
male: 29 years
female: 30.4 years (2001 census)
Nationality noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander
People - note 2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017
Population 12,271 (July 2008 est.)
Population below poverty line NA%
Population growth rate NA (2008 est.)
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)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2005)
Sex ratio total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2001 census)
Total fertility rate 3.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Transportation Cook Islands
Airports 9 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Merchant marine total: 26
by type: cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 17 (Latvia 1, Lithuania 1, NZ 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 5, Sweden 8) (2008)
Ports and terminals Avatiu
Roadways total: 320 km
paved: 33 km
unpaved: 287 km (2003)
Government Cook Islands
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 Sir Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner Tia BARRETT (since December 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
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, ADB, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMSO, IOC, ITUC, 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 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
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 Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes)
other: various groups lobbying for political change
Suffrage NA years of age; universal (adult)
Economy Cook Islands
Budget revenues: $70.95 million
expenditures: $69.05 million (FY05/06)
Currency (code) NZ dollar (NZD)
Current account balance $26.67 million (2005)
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 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.
Electricity - consumption 27.9 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production 30 million kWh (2006 est.)
Exchange rates NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)
Exports $5.222 million (2005)
Exports - commodities copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 15.1%
industry: 9.6%
services: 75.3% (2004)
GDP - per capita (PPP) $9,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 0.1% (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate) $183.2 million (2005 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity) $183.2 million (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
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 (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports 0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports 0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - production 0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Oil - consumption 463.7 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports 0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports 475.5 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - production 0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 13.1% (2005)
Communications Cook Islands
Internet country code .ck
Internet hosts 2,234 (2008)
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: 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)
Military Cook Islands
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually male: 157
female: 133 (2008 est.)
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; National Police Department (2007)
Transnational Issues Cook Islands
Disputes - international none

Map: Cook Islands