Legend:  Definition
 Field
Listing  Rank
Order
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
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 Ngamau MUNOKOA (since 5
November 2003)
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 16 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]; Cook Islands National Party or CIN [Teariki HEATHER]
|
|
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
|
|
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:
|
7.1% (2001 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita:
|
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 17%
industry: 7.8%
services: 75.2% (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 (FY 00/01 est.) |
|
Industries:
|
fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
1% (2002) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
27.43 million kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
25.51 million kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - exports:
|
0 kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - imports:
|
0 kWh (2001) |
|
Oil - production:
|
0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption:
|
450 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - exports:
|
NA (2001) |
|
Oil - imports:
|
NA (2001) |
|
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; 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
|
|
Military - note:
|
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with
the Cook Islands and at its request
|
|
Disputes - international:
|
none
|
This page was last updated on 18 December,
2003
|
