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| Geography |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Area: |
total: 236 sq km land: 236 sq km water: 0 sq kmSize comparison: 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) |
| Current Environment Issues: |
NA |
| International Environment Agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection |
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| People |
| Population: |
10,777 (July 2012 est.) |
| Age structure: |
0-14 years: 24.2% (male 1,384/ female 1,223) 15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,649/ female 3,416) 65 years and over: 10.3% (male 540/ female 565) (2012 est.) |
| Median age: |
total: 32.9 years male: 32.2 years female: 33.5 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: |
-3.136% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: |
15.22 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: |
7.61 deaths/1,000 population NA (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: |
|
| Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05 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: 15.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 74.92 years male: 72.13 years female: 77.86 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: |
2.35 children born/woman (2012 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: |
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) |
| Languages: |
English (official), Maori |
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95% male: NA female: NA |
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| Government |
| Country name: |
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands former: Harvey 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 |
| 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) |
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| Economy |
| 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): |
GDP (purchasing power parity): $183.2 million (2005 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): |
GDP (official exchange rate): $183.2 million (2005 est.) |
| GDP – real growth rate: |
0.1% (2005 est.) |
| GDP – per capita (PPP): |
GDP – per capita (PPP): $9,100 (2005 est.) |
| GDP – composition by sector: |
agriculture: 5.1% industry: 12.7% services: 82.1% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: |
6,820 (2001) |
| Labor force – by occupation: |
agriculture: 29% industry: 15% services: 56% (1995) |
| Unemployment rate: |
13.1% (2005) |
| Population below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (2011 est.) -0.3% (2010 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $70.95 million expenditures: $69.05 million (FY05/06) |
| 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) |
| Electricity – production: |
31.13 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 211 |
| Electricity – consumption: |
28.95 million kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity – exports: |
0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity – imports: |
0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas – production: |
0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas – consumption: |
0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas – exports: |
0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas – imports: |
0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas – proved reserves: |
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: |
$26.67 million (2005) |
| Exports: |
$3,000 (2011 est.) $5,000 (2010 est.) |
| Exports – commodities: |
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing |
| Imports: |
$NA (2011 est.) $NA (2010 est.) |
| Imports – commodities: |
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods |
| Debt – external: |
$141 million (1996 est.) |
| Exchange rates: |
NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar – 1.2658 (2011) 1.3874 (2010) 1.6002 (2009) 1.4151 (2008) 1.3811 (2007) |
| Fiscal year: |
1 April – 31 March |
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| Communications |
| Telephones in use: |
7,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 207 |
| Cellular Phones in use: |
7,800 (2009) |
| 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: |
|
| Television broadcast stations: |
|
| Internet country code: |
.ck |
| Internet hosts: |
3,562 (2012) |
| Internet users: |
6,000 (2009) |
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| Transportation |
| Airports: |
11 (2012) country comparison to the world: 154 |
| Airports (paved runways): |
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): |
total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2012) |
| Roadways: |
total: 320 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 287 km (2003) |
| Merchant marine: |
total: 35 by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 25, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 23 (Estonia 1, Germany 1, Lithuania 1, Norway 8, NZ 2, Russia 1, Sweden 3, Turkey 4, UK 2) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: |
Avatiu |
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| Military |
| 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 (2009) |
| Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 16-49: 2,198 females age 16-49: 2,156 (2010 est.) |
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