Military - note (Defense note) [time series]

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1

Radios [time series]

13,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: the 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: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

4,180 (1994)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 studio and 8 low-powered repeaters to achieve good coverage on the island of Rarotonga

Televisions [time series]

3,500 (1995 est.) Defense

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, bananas, yams, taro

Budget [time series]

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA note: in 1994, Cook Islands received $5.4 million in budget support and $3.3 million in project aid from New Zealand, the country's largest source of aid

Economic overview [time series]

Agriculture provides the economic base. The major export earners are fruit, copra, and clothing. Manufacturing activities are limited to a fruit-processing plant and several clothing factories. Economic development is hindered by the isolation of the islands from foreign markets and a lack of natural resources and good transportation links. A large trade deficit is annually made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, largely from New Zealand. Current economic development plans call for exploiting the tourism potential and expanding the mining and fishing industries. Despite these plans, the Cook Islands will continue to face severe financial problems.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 14,000 kW production: 21 million kWh consumption per capita: 741 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$3.4 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: copra, fresh and canned fruit, clothing partners: NZ 80%, Japan

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$160 million (1994)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $57 million (1993 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$3,000 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Imports [time series]

$50 million (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber partners: NZ 49%, Japan, Australia, US

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

fruit processing, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.2% (1990)

Labor force [time series]

5,810 by occupation: agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry 15%, other 4% (1981)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

total area: 240 sq km land area: 240 sq km comparative area: slightly more than one times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Coastline [time series]

120 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: NA natural hazards: typhoons (November to March) international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

21 14 S, 159 46 W

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 4% permanent crops: 22% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 74%

Location [time series]

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

negligible

Terrain [time series]

low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Te Manga 652 m

Administrative divisions [time series]

none

Capital [time series]

Avarua

Constitution [time series]

4 August 1965

Data code [time series]

CW

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Darryl DUNN (since NA 1994), representative of New Zealand was appointed by the New Zealand Government head of government: Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey A. HENRY (since 1 February 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1 February 1989) cabinet: Cabinet; collectively responsible to Parliament

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

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 [time series]

AsDB, ESCAP (associate), ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court

Legal system [time series]

NA

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands

National holiday [time series]

Constitution Day, 4 August

Legislative branch (Parliament) [time series]

elections last held 6 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (25 total) Cook Islands Party 20, Democratic Party 3, Democratic Alliance Party 2 note: the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY; Democratic Party, Sir Thomas DAVIS; Democratic Alliance Party, Norman GEORGE

Suffrage [time series]

NA years of age; universal adult

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate [time series]

22.87 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Maori

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.14 years male: 69.2 years female: 73.1 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

NA

Nationality [time series]

noun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander

Net migration rate [time series]

-6.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

19,561 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.11% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Christian (majority of populace members of Cook Islands Christian Church)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.25 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Airports [time series]

total: 7 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 187 km paved: 35 km unpaved: 152 km (1980 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,464 GRT/2,181 DWT (1995 est.)

Ports [time series]

Avarua, Avatiu

Railways [time series]

0 km