Cook Islands (2003)

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Cook Islands 2003 year


Administrative divisions	none
Age structure	0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products	copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
Airports	7 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Area	total: 240 sq km land: 240 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
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 and government deficits are continuing problems.
Birth rate	NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget	revenues: $28 million expenditures: $27 million, including capital expenditures of $3.3 million (FY 00/01 est.)
Capital	Avarua
Climate	tropical; moderated by trade winds
Coastline	120 km
Constitution	4 August 1965
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands former: Harvey Islands
Currency	New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Death rate	NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external	$141 million (1996 est.)
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
Diplomatic representation from the US	none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Disputes - international	none
Economic aid - recipient	$13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater part (1995)
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 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	25.51 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production	27.43 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source	fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Environment - current issues	NA
Environment - international agreements	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups	Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%
Exchange rates	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)
Executive branch	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 head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Robert WOONTON (since 12 February 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Ngamau MUNOKOA (since 5 November 2003) 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
Exports	0 kWh (2001)
Exports	$9.1 million (2000)
Exports	NA (2001)
Exports - commodities	copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Exports - partners	Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2000)
Fiscal year	1 April - 31 March
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
GDP	purchasing power parity - $105 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 17% industry: 7.8% services: 75.2% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	7.1% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates	21 14 S, 159 46 W
Geography - note	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
Highways	total: 320 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 287 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports	0 kWh (2001)
Imports	$50.7 million (2000)
Imports	NA (2001)
Imports - commodities	foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Imports - partners	NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2000)
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)
Industrial production growth rate	1% (2002)
Industries	fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate	total: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	3.2% (2000 est.)
International organization participation	ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS (associate), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	3 (2000)
Irrigated land	NA sq km
Judicial branch	High Court
Labor force	8,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% note: shortage of skilled labor (1995)
Land boundaries	0 km
Land use	arable land: 17.39% permanent crops: 13.04% other: 69.57% (1998 est.)
Languages	English (official), Maori
Legal system	based on New Zealand law and English common law
Legislative branch	unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 16 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
Life expectancy at birth	total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years (2003 est.)
Literacy	definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%
Location	Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references	Oceania
Maritime claims	continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
National holiday	Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
Nationality	noun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander
Natural hazards	typhoons (November to March)
Natural resources	NEGL
Political parties and leaders	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]
Political pressure groups and leaders	NA
Population	21,008 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA%
Population growth rate	NA% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors	Avarua, Avatiu
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Railways	0 km
Religions	Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands Christian Church)
Sex ratio	NA (2003 est.)
Suffrage	NA years of age; universal adult
Telephone system	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 - main lines in use	5,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular	0 (1994)
Television broadcast stations	2 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain	low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Total fertility rate	NA children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate	13% (1996)
Waterways	none

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