ARCHIVE // CK // 2000

Cook Islands

2000 Edition — territory

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2000 CSV Excel Print All Years
Communications
Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]
1 (1999)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios [time series]
14,000 (1997)
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 - main lines in use) [time series]
4,180 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
0 (1994)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
2 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions [time series]
4,000 (1997)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee
Budget [time series]
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Debt - external [time series]
$141 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
$13.1 million (1995); note - New Zealand furnishes the greater part
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit-processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. Efforts to exploit tourism potential, encourage offshore banking, and expand the mining and fishing industries have been partially successful in stimulating investment and growth.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
14 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - production [time series]
15 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Exchange rates [time series]
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9451 (January 2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995)
Exports [time series]
$4.2 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Exports - partners [time series]
NZ 80%, Japan, Hong Kong (1993)
Fiscal year [time series]
1 April - 31 March
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $112 million (1998 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 18% industry: 9% services: 73% (1995)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $5,600 (1998 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$85 million (c.i.f., 1994)
Imports - commodities [time series]
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Imports - partners [time series]
NZ 49%, Italy, Australia (1993)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
fruit processing, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
2.6% (1994 est.)
Labor force [time series]
6,601 (1993)
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% (1995)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
NA%
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 240 sq km land: 240 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical; moderated by trade winds
Coastline [time series]
120 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
NA
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geographic coordinates [time series]
21 14 S, 159 46 W
Irrigated land [time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 9% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 78% (1993 est.)
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 hazards [time series]
typhoons (November to March)
Natural resources [time series]
NEGL
Terrain [time series]
low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none
Capital [time series]
Avarua
Constitution [time series]
4 August 1965
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands
Data code [time series]
CW
Dependency status [time series]
self-governing 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 [time series]
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Jon JONESSEN (since NA January 1998), representative of New Zealand head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Terepai MAOATE (since 18 November 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Norman GEORGE (since NA) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament 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 party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister note: ten years of rule by the Cook Islands Party (CIP) came to an end 18 November 1999 with the resignation of Prime Minister Joe WILLIAMS; WILLIAMS had led a minority government since October 1999 when the New Alliance Party (NAP) left the government coalition and joined the main opposition Democratic Alliance Party (DAP); on 18 November 1999, DAP leader Dr. Terepai MAOATE was sworn in as prime minister
Flag (Flag description) [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
Government type [time series]
self-governing parliamentary democracy
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), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Judicial branch [time series]
High Court
Legal system [time series]
based on New Zealand law and English common law
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held NA 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 Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers
National holiday [time series]
Constitution Day, 4 August (1965)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Cook Islands Party or CIP [Joe WILLIAMS]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP [leader NA]
Suffrage [time series]
NA years of age; universal adult
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate [time series]
22.18 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate [time series]
5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Ethnic groups [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 (2000 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 (2000 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality [time series]
noun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander
Net migration rate [time series]
-0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Population [time series]
20,407 (July 2000 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
1.6% (2000 est.)
Religions [time series]
Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands Christian Church)
Total fertility rate [time series]
3.14 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]
Transportation
Airports [time series]
7 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 187 km paved: 35 km unpaved: 152 km (1980 est.)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,310 GRT/2,181 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Avarua, Avatiu
Railways [time series]
0 km