ARCHIVE // CK // 2002

Cook Islands

2002 Edition — territory

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Communications
Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]
3 (2000)
Internet country code [time series]
.ck
Internet users [time series]
NA
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]
general assessment: NA 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]
5,000 (1997)
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; pigs, poultry
Budget [time series]
revenues: $28 million expenditures: $27 million, including capital expenditures of $3.3 million (FY00/01 est. )
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]
NZD
Debt - external [time series]
$141 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
$13.1 million (1995); note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater part (1995)
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, 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.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
22.32 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production [time series]
24 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Exchange rates [time series]
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)
Exports [time series]
$9.1 million (2000)
Exports - commodities [time series]
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Exports - partners [time series]
Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2000)
Fiscal year [time series]
1 April - 31 March
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $105 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 17% industry: 8% services: 75% (2000 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 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]
$50.7 million (2000)
Imports - commodities [time series]
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Imports - partners [time series]
NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2000)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
fruit processing, tourism, fishing
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
3.2% (2000 est.)
Labor force [time series]
8,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% note: shortage of skilled labor (1995)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
13% (1996)
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 240 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 240 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates [time series]
21 14 S, 159 46 W
Geography - note [time series]
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
Irrigated land [time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 17.39% permanent crops: 13.04% other: 69.57% (1998 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 territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 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 former: Harvey Islands
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 and defense, 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 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 Sir Geoffrey HENRY (since 12 February 2002) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament
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]
ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS (associate), 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 Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers
National holiday [time series]
Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Geoffrey HENRY]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP [Norman GEORGE]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
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]
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate [time series]
NA deaths/1,000 population
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%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Languages [time series]
English (official), Maori
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Literacy [time series]
definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality [time series]
noun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander
Population [time series]
20,811 (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
NA% (2002 est.)
Religions [time series]
Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands Christian Church)
Sex ratio [time series]
NA
Total fertility rate [time series]
NA children born/woman
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
7 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 320 km (1992) paved: NA unpaved: NA
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Avarua, Avatiu
Railways [time series]
0 km
Waterways [time series]
none