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Australia-Oceania :: Cook Islands (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

- ## Introduction :: COOK ISLANDS

- Background:
  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, government deficits, and limited natural resources are of continuing concern.

- ## Geography :: COOK ISLANDS

- Location:
  Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
  Geographic coordinates:
  21 14 S, 159 46 W
  Map references:
  Oceania
  Area:
  total: 236 sq km
  land: 236 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 215
  Area - comparative:
  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:
  coconuts (copra)
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 8.4%
  arable land 4.2%; permanent crops 4.2%; permanent pasture 0%
  forest: 64.6%
  other: 27% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  NA
  Natural hazards:
  typhoons (November to March)
  Environment - current issues:
  NA
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
  Geography - note:
  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

- ## People and Society :: COOK ISLANDS

- Nationality:
  noun: Cook Islander(s)
  adjective: Cook Islander
  Ethnic groups:
  Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 81.3%, part Cook Island Maori 6.7%, other 11.9% (2011 est.)
  Languages:
  English (official) 86.4%, Cook Islands Maori (Rarotongan) (official) 76.2%, other 8.3%
  note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2011 est.)
  Religions:
  Protestant 62.8% (Cook Islands Christian Church 49.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 7.9%, Assemblies of God 3.7%, Apostolic Church 2.1%), Roman Catholic 17%, Mormon 4.4%, other 8%, none 5.6%, no response 2.2% (2011 est.)
  Population:
  9,838
  note: the Cook Islands' Ministry of Finance & Economic Management estimated the resident population to have been 13,700 in September 2013 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 224
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22.15% (male 1,154/female 1,025)
  15-24 years: 17.64% (male 929/female 806)
  25-54 years: 38.05% (male 1,876/female 1,867)
  55-64 years: 10.81% (male 569/female 494)
  65 years and over: 11.36% (male 551/female 567) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Median age:
  total: 35.25 years
  male: 34.6 years
  female: 35.7 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  -2.95% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 233
  Birth rate:
  14.33 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 137
  Death rate:
  8.03 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 74.5% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 0.88% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 13.87 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 16.86 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 10.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 75.6 years
  male: 72.78 years
  female: 78.56 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Total fertility rate:
  2.23 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Health expenditures:
  3.1% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Physicians density:
  1.33 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 99.9% of population
  rural: 99.9% of population
  total: 99.9% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0.1% of population
  rural: 0.1% of population
  total: 0.1% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 97.6% of population
  rural: 97.6% of population
  total: 97.6% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 2.4% of population
  rural: 2.4% of population
  total: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  50% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 3
  Education expenditures:
  3.1% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 137
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 15 years
  male: 16 years
  female: 15 years (2012)

- ## Government :: COOK ISLANDS

- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Cook Islands
  etymology: named after Captain James COOK, the British explorer who visited the islands in 1773 and 1777
  Dependency status:
  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
  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 (Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964); amended many times, last in 2004 (2015)
  Legal system:
  common law similar to New Zealand common law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Tom J. MARSTERS (since 9 August 2013); New Zealand High Commissioner Joanna KEMPKERS (since 19 July 2013)
  head of government: Prime Minister Henry PUNA (since 30 November 2010)
  cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister
  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; UK representative appointed by the monarch; New Zealand high commissioner appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes prime minister
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Parliament, formerly the Legislative Assembly (24 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the House of Ariki, a 24-member parliamentary body of traditional leaders appointed by the Queen's representative serves as a consultative body to the Parliament
  elections: last held on 9 July 2014 (next to be held by 2018)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CIP 13, Demo 8, One Cook Islands Movement 2, 1 undecided
  Judicial branch:
  highest resident court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and 3 judges of the High Court); High Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 4 judges and organized into civil, criminal, and land divisions); note - appeals beyond the Cook Islands Court of Appeal are brought before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
  judge selection and term of office: High Court chief justice appointed by the Queen's Representative on the advice of the Executive Council tendered by the prime minister; other judges appointed by the Queen's Representative, on the advice of the Executive Council tendered by the chief justice, High Court chief justice, and the minister of justice; chief justice and judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms
  subordinate courts: justices of the peace
  Political parties and leaders:
  Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]
  Democratic Party or Demo [William HEATHER]
  One Cook Islands Movement [Teina BISHOP]
  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, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), 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)
  Flag description:
  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
  National symbol(s):
  a circle of 15, five-pointed, white stars on a blue field; national colors: blue, white
  National anthem:
  name: "Te Atua Mou E" (To God Almighty)
  lyrics/music: Tepaeru Te RITO/Thomas DAVIS
  note: adopted 1982; as prime minister, Sir Thomas DAVIS composed the anthem; his wife, a tribal chief, wrote the lyrics

- ## Economy :: COOK ISLANDS

- Economy - overview:
  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 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):
  $183.2 million (2005 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 220
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $183.2 million (2005 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  0.1% (2005 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $9,100 (2005 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 5.1%
  industry: 12.7%
  services: 82.1% (2010 est.)
  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)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Labor force:
  6,820 (2001)
  country comparison to the world: 219
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 29%
  industry: 15%
  services: 56% (1995)
  Unemployment rate:
  13.1% (2005)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $70.95 million
  expenditures: $69.05 million (FY05/06)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  38.7% of GDP (FY05/06 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  1% of GDP (FY05/06 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 29
  Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.2% (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Stock of narrow money:
  $38.99 million (31 December 2011 est.)
  $38.99 million (31 December 2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Stock of broad money:
  $148.2 million (31 December 2011 est.)
  $170.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Current account balance:
  $26.67 million (2005)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Exports:
  $3,000 (2011 est.)
  $5.222 million (2005 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 222
  Exports - commodities:
  copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
  Imports:
  $83.49 million (2011 est.)
  $80.55 million (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 218
  Imports - commodities:
  foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
  Debt - external:
  $141 million (1996 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Exchange rates:
  NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
  1.2039 (2014 est.)
  1.2187 (2013 est.)
  1.23 (2012 est.)
  1.263 (2011 est.)
  1.3874 (2010)

- ## Energy :: COOK ISLANDS

- Electricity - production:
  31.13 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Electricity - consumption:
  28.95 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  8,040 kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  99.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 123
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 179
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  500 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 208
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  484.7 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 176
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 129
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  150,300 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204

- ## Communications :: COOK ISLANDS

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total: 7,200
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 61 (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 202
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 7,800
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 66 (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 213
  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)
  Broadcast media:
  1 privately owned TV station broadcasts from Rarotonga providing a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs; a satellite program package is available; 6 radio stations broadcast with 1 reportedly reaching all of the islands (2009)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
  Television broadcast stations:
  1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004)
  Internet country code:
  .ck
  Internet users:
  total: 674
  percent of population: 6.7% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 216

- ## Transportation :: COOK ISLANDS

- Airports:
  11 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 10
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 7
  under 914 m:
  1 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 320 km
  paved: 33 km
  unpaved: 287 km (2003)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  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)
  country comparison to the world: 81
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Avatiu

- ## Military :: COOK ISLANDS

- 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.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 127
  female: 107 (2010 est.)
  Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request

- ## Transnational Issues :: COOK ISLANDS

- Disputes - international:
  none

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