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Compare Cook Islands (2004) - Congo, Democratic Republic of the (2001)

Compare Cook Islands (2004) z Congo, Democratic Republic of the (2001)

 Cook Islands (2004)Congo, Democratic Republic of the (2001)
 Cook IslandsCongo, Democratic Republic of the
Administrative divisions none 10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and one city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu
Age structure 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA (2004 est.)
0-14 years:
48.24% (male 12,988,488; female 12,878,232)

15-64 years:
49.21% (male 12,931,886; female 13,459,109)

65 years and over:
2.55% (male 575,113; female 791,890) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products
Airports 9 (2003 est.) 232 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
total:
24

over 3,047 m:
4

2,438 to 3,047 m:
3

1,524 to 2,437 m:
15

914 to 1,523 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total:
208

1,524 to 2,437 m:
20

914 to 1,523 m:
96

under 914 m:
92 (2000 est.)
Area total: 240 sq km


land: 240 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total:
2,345,410 sq km

land:
2,267,600 sq km

water:
77,810 sq km
Area - comparative 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
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. Since 1994 the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC; formerly called Zaire) has been rent by ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees from the fighting in Rwanda and Burundi. The government of former president MOBUTU Sese Seko was toppled by a rebellion led by Laurent KABILA in May 1997; his regime was subsequently challenged by a Rwanda- and Uganda-backed rebellion in August 1998. Troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed on 10 July 1999, but sporadic fighting continued. KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA was named head of state. The new president quickly began overtures to end the war.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 46.02 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $28 million


expenditures: $27 million, including capital expenditures of $3.3 million (FY00/01 est.)
revenues:
$269 million

expenditures:
$244 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.)
Capital Avarua Kinshasa
Climate tropical; moderated by trade winds tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to October
Coastline 120 km 37 km
Constitution 4 August 1965 24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978, amended April 1990; transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994; in November 1998, a draft constitution was approved by former President Laurent KABILA but it has not been ratified by a national referendum
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Cook Islands


former: Harvey Islands
conventional long form:
Democratic Republic of the Congo

conventional short form:
none

local long form:
Republique Democratique du Congo

local short form:
none

former:
Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire

abbreviation:
DROC
Currency New Zealand dollar (NZD) Congolese franc (CDF)
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 15.15 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $141 million (1996 est.) $13 billion (1998 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) chief of mission:
Ambassador William Lacy SWING

embassy:
310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa

mailing address:
Unit 31550, APO AE 09828

telephone:
[243] (12) 21804, 21807

FAX:
[243] (88) 43805
Diplomatic representation in the US none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) chief of mission:
Ambassador Faida MITIFU

chancery:
1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone:
[1] (202) 234-7690, 7691

FAX:
[1] (202) 234-2609
Disputes - international none the Democratic Republic of the Congo is in the grip of a civil war that has drawn in military forces from neighboring states, with Uganda and Rwanda supporting the rebel movements that occupy much of the eastern portion of the state; most of the Congo river boundary with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite (no agreement has been reached on the division of the river or its islands, except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area)
Economic aid - recipient $13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater part (1995) $195.3 million (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. The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with vast potential wealth - has declined drastically since the mid-1980s. The new government instituted a tight fiscal policy that initially curbed inflation and currency depreciation, but these small gains were quickly reversed when the foreign-backed rebellion in the eastern part of the country began in August 1998. The war has dramatically reduced national output and government revenue and has increased external debt. Foreign businesses have curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict and because of increased government harassment and restrictions. The war has intensified the impact of such basic problems as an uncertain legal framework, corruption, raging inflation, and lack of openness in government economic policy and financial operations. A number of IMF and World Bank missions have met with the government to help it develop a coherent economic plan but associated reforms are on hold.
Electricity - consumption 25.51 million kWh (2001) 4.55 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 404 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 55 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 27.43 million kWh (2001) 5.268 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
2.05%

hydro:
97.95%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Te Manga 652 m
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m
Environment - current issues NA poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees who arrived in mid-1994 were responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching in the eastern part of the country (most of those refugees were repatriated in November and December 1996)
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
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Environmental Modification
Ethnic groups Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9% over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population
Exchange rates New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.7229 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3776 (2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999) Congolese francs per US dollar - 50 (January 2001), 4.5 (January 2000), 4.02 (1999), 1.61 (1998), 1.31 (1997), 0.50 (1996)

note:
on 30 June 1998 the Congolese franc was introduced, replacing the new zaire
Executive branch 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 SIR Geoffrey HENRY (since 14 December 2004)


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
chief of state:
Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note - the president succeeded his father Laurent Desire KABILA after his assassination on 16 January 2001; as president he is both chief of state and head of government

head of government:
Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note - the president succeeded his father Laurent Desire KABILA after his assassination on 16 January 2001; as president he is both chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
National Executive Council, appointed by the president

elections:
before Laurent Desire KABILA seized power, the president was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 29 July 1984 (next was scheduled to be held in May 1997); formerly, the prime minister was elected by the High Council of the Republic; note - elections were not held in 1991 as called for by the constitution

election results:
results of the last election were: MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without opposition

note:
Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga was president from 24 November 1965 until forced into exile on 16 May 1997 when his government was overthrown militarily by Laurent Desire KABILA, who immediately assumed governing authority; KABILA pledged to hold elections by April 1999, but in December 1998 announced that elections would be postponed until all foreign military forces attempting to topple the government had withdrawn from the country; KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and was succeeded by his son Joseph KABILA
Exports NA (2001) $960 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt, crude oil
Exports - partners Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2000) Benelux 62%, US 18%, South Africa, Finland, Italy (1999)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
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 light blue with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center and a columnar arrangement of six small yellow five-pointed stars along the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $105 million (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $31 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 17%


industry: 7.8%


services: 75.2% (2000 est.)
agriculture:
58%

industry:
17%

services:
25% (1997 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $600 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 7.1% (2001 est.) -15% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 21 14 S, 159 46 W 0 00 N, 25 00 E
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 straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo river and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands
Highways total: 320 km


paved: 33 km


unpaved: 287 km (2000)
total:
157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways)(1996)

paved:
NA km

unpaved:
NA km
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs - illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption
Imports NA (2001) $660 million (c.i.f., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners New Zealand 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2000) South Africa 28%, Benelux 14%, Nigeria 9%, Kenya 7%, China (1999)
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) 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
Industrial production growth rate 1% (2002) NA%
Industries fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA (2004 est.)
99.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.2% (2000 est.) 540% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACP, AsDB, FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 2 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 100 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch High Court Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Labor force 8,000 (1996) 14.51 million (1993 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56%


note: shortage of skilled labor (1995)
agriculture 65%, industry 16%, services 19% (1991 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total:
10,744 km

border countries:
Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 473 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km
Land use arable land: 17.39%


permanent crops: 13.04%


other: 69.57% (2001)
arable land:
3%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
7%

forests and woodland:
77%

other:
13% (1993 est.)
Languages English (official), Maori French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba
Legal system based on New Zealand law and English common law based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch 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
a 300-member Transitional Constituent Assembly established in August 2000

elections:
NA; members of the Transitional Constituent Assembly were appointed by former President KABILA
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years (2004 est.)
total population:
48.94 years

male:
46.96 years

female:
50.98 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: 95%


male: NA


female: NA
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba

total population:
77.3%

male:
86.6%

female:
67.7% (1995 est.)
Location Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Central Africa, northeast of Angola
Map references Oceania Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
boundaries with neighbors

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,074 GRT/7,520 DWT


by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1


foreign-owned: Australia 1, United Kingdom 1 (2004 est.)
none (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request -
Military branches - Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Presidential Security Group
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $250 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 4.6% (FY97)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
11,615,554 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
5,915,251 (2001 est.)
National holiday Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965) Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
Nationality noun: Cook Islander(s)


adjective: Cook Islander
noun:
Congolese (singular and plural)

adjective:
Congolese or Congo
Natural hazards typhoons (November to March) periodic droughts in south; volcanic activity
Natural resources NEGL cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore, coal, hydropower, timber
Net migration rate - 0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

note:
one million refugees fled into Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo or DROC) in 1994 to escape the fighting between the Hutus and the Tutsis; fighting in the DROC between rebels and government forces in October 1996 caused 875,000 refugees to return to Rwanda in late 1996 and early 1997; an additional 173,000 Rwandan refugees disappeared in early 1997 and are assumed to have been killed by Zairian forces; fighting between the Congolese government and Uganda- and Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a regional war in DROC in August 1998, which left 1.8 million Congolese displaced in DROC and caused 300,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding countries
Pipelines - petroleum products 390 km
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]; Demo Party Tumu [Robert WOONTON] Democratic Social Christian Party or PDSC [Andre BO-BOLIKO]; Popular Movement of the Revolution or MPR [leader NA]; Unified Lumumbast Party or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]; Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans or UFERI [Kouyoumba MUCHULI Mulembe]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 21,200 (July 2004 est.) 53,624,718

note:
estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA%
Population growth rate NA (2004 est.) 3.1% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Avarua, Avatiu Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 3, FM 12, shortwave 1 (1999)
Radios - 18.03 million (1997)
Railways - total:
5,138 km (1995)

note:
severely reduced route-distance in use because of damage to facilities by civil strife

narrow gauge:
3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2000)
Religions Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands Christian Church) Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs 10%
Sex ratio NA (2004 est.) at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.73 male(s)/female

total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage NA years of age; universal adult 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
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)
general assessment:
NA

domestic:
barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 6,200 (2002) 21,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1,500 (2002) 8,900 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004) 20 (1999)
Terrain low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman (2004 est.) 6.84 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 13% (1996) NA%
Waterways - 15,000 km (including the Congo and its tributaries, and unconnected lakes)
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