Compare Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2004) - Cook Islands (2008)

Compare Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2004) z Cook Islands (2008)

	Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2004)	Cook Islands (2008)

Administrative divisions	-	none
Age structure	-	0-14 years: 34.1% (male 2,718/female 2,388) 15-64 years: 59.5% (male 4,531/female 4,395) 65 years and over: 6.4% (male 489/female 469) (2001 census) (2001 census)
Agriculture - products	-	copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
Airports	-	9 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways	-	total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways	-	total: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Area	total: 5 sq km land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island	total: 236.7 sq km land: 236.7 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC	1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Background	These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983, it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, is now a marine reserve.	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	-	21 births/1,000 population NA (2001 census)
Budget	-	revenues: $70.95 million expenditures: $69.05 million (FY05/06)
Capital	-	name: Avarua geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate	tropical	tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March
Coastline	74.1 km	120 km
Constitution	-	4 August 1965
Country name	conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands former: Harvey Islands
Death rate	-	NA
Debt - external	-	$141 million (1996 est.)
Dependency status	territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services	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 (territory of Australia)	none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (territory of Australia)	none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Disputes - international	Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia has closed the surrounding waters to Indonesian traditional fishing and has created a national park in the region while continuing to prospect for hydrocarbons in the vicinity	none
Economic aid - recipient	-	$13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater part (1995)
Economy - overview	no economic activity	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 about one-third of the working population, provides the economic base with major exports made up 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.
Electricity - consumption	-	27.9 million kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - exports	-	0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports	-	0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production	-	30 million kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Environment - current issues	NA	NA
Environment - international agreements	-	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups	-	Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%, other 6.5% (2001 census)
Exchange rates	-	NZ dollars per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)
Executive branch	-	chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner Brian DONNELLY (since 21 February 2008), 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
Exports	-	0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities	-	copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Exports - partners	-	Australia 34%, Japan 27%, NZ 25%, US 8% (2006)
Fiscal year	-	1 April - 31 March
Flag description	the flag of Australia is used	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 - composition by sector	-	agriculture: 15.1% industry: 9.6% services: 75.3% (2004)
GDP - real growth rate	-	0.1% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates	12 14 S, 123 05 E	21 14 S, 159 46 W
Geography - note	Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983	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
Household income or consumption by percentage share	-	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports	-	429.3 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities	-	foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Imports - partners	-	NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2006)
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)	-	2.1% (2005 est.)
International organization participation	-	ACP, ADB, FAO, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Irrigated land	0 sq km (1998 est.)	NA
Judicial branch	-	High Court
Labor force	-	6,820 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation	-	agriculture: 29% industry: 15% services: 56% (1995)
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand) (2001)	arable land: 16.67% permanent crops: 8.33% other: 75% (2005)
Languages	-	English (official), Maori
Legal system	the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply	based on New Zealand law and English common law
Legislative branch	-	bicameral Parliament consisting of a Legislative Assembly (or lower house) (25 seats, 24 seats representing districts of the Cook Islands, 1 seat representing Cook Islanders living overseas; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and a House of Ariki (or upper house) made up of traditional leaders note: the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence but has no legislative powers elections: last held 26 September 2006 (next to be held by 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - Demo 51.9%, CIP 45.5%, independent 2.7%; seats by party - Demo 15, CIP 8, independent 1
Life expectancy at birth	-	total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Literacy	-	definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%
Location	Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between north-western Australia and Timor island	Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references	Southeast Asia	Oceania
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Merchant marine	-	total: 16 ships (1000 GRT or over) 112,129 GRT/126,160 DWT by type: cargo 5, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 11 (Norway 1, NZ 1, Sweden 9) (2007)
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force	defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
Military branches	-	no regular military forces; National Police Department (2007)
National holiday	-	Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
Nationality	-	noun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander
Natural hazards	surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards	typhoons (November to March)
Natural resources	fish	NEGL
People - note	the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia's Rote Island has become an ongoing problem	2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017
Political parties and leaders	-	Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]; Democratic Party or Demo [Dr. Terepai MAOATE]
Political pressure groups and leaders	-	NA
Population	no indigenous inhabitants note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island (July 2004 est.)	21,750 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line	-	NA%
Population growth rate	-	-1.2% between 1996-2001 (2001 census)
Ports and harbors	none; offshore anchorage only	-
Radio broadcast stations	-	AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Religions	-	Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic 16.8%, Seventh-Day Adventists 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	-	1.07 male(s)/female (2001 census)
Suffrage	-	NA years of age; universal (adult)
Telephone system	-	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 - main lines in use	-	6,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular	-	1,500 (2002)
Television broadcast stations	-	1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004)
Terrain	low with sand and coral	low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Total fertility rate	-	3.1 children born/woman (2001 census)
Unemployment rate	-	13.1% (2005)

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