ARCHIVE // CK // 2005

Cook Islands

2005 Edition — territory

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Communications
Internet country code [time series]
.ck
Internet users [time series]
3,600 (2002)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex 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: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
6,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
1,500 (2002)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004)
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 (code)) [time series]
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Debt - external [time series]
$141 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
$13.1 million; 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]
25.11 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production [time series]
27 million kWh (2002)
Exchange rates [time series]
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000)
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 (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$105 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 17% industry: 7.8% services: 75.2% (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]
7.1% (2001 est.)
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]
New Zealand 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2000)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
1% (2002)
Industries [time series]
fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts
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)
Oil - consumption [time series]
450 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports [time series]
NA
Oil - imports [time series]
NA
Oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA
Unemployment rate [time series]
13% (1996)
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, 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
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 17.39% permanent crops: 13.04% other: 69.57% (2001)
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]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner Kurt MEYER (since July 2001), representative of New Zealand head of government: Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Terepai MAOATE (since 9 August 2005) 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 majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes 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]
ACP, AsDB, FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UNESCO, UPU, 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 7 September 2004 (next to be held by 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CIP 10, DAP 9, Demo Tumu 4, independent 1; note - one seat undecided pending by-election 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]; Cook Islands National Party or CIN [Teariki HEATHER]; Demo Party Tumu [Robert WOONTON]
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
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
no regular military forces; Ministry of Police and Disaster Management (2004)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate [time series]
NA
Death rate [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%, other 6.5% (2001 census)
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]
total: NA male: NA female: NA
Languages [time series]
English (official), Maori
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: NA male: NA female: NA
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]
21,388 (July 2005 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
NA
Religions [time series]
Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic 16.8%, Seventh Day Saint 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints 3.8%, other Protestant 5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census)
Sex ratio [time series]
NA
Total fertility rate [time series]
NA children born/woman (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
9 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 320 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 287 km (2000)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,074 GRT/7,520 DWT by type: petroleum tanker 1 (2005)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Avatiu