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Compare Cook Islands (2005) - Christmas Island (2004)

Compare Cook Islands (2005) z Christmas Island (2004)

 Cook Islands (2005)Christmas Island (2004)
 Cook IslandsChristmas Island
Administrative divisions none none (territory of Australia)
Age structure 0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA
0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry NA
Airports 9 (2004 est.) 1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


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


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 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.)
-
Area total: 240 sq km


land: 240 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 135 sq km


land: 135 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC about three-quarters 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. Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Birth rate NA NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: $28 million


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


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Capital Avarua The Settlement
Climate tropical; moderated by trade winds tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season December to April
Coastline 120 km 80 km
Constitution 4 August 1965 NA
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Cook Islands


former: Harvey Islands
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island


conventional short form: Christmas Island
Currency - Australian dollar (AUD)
Death rate NA NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $141 million (1996 est.) NA
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 territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Diplomatic representation from the US none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) none (territory of Australia)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater part (1995) NA
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. Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, projected to begin operations in mid-2004
Electricity - consumption 25.11 million kWh (2002) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2002) -
Electricity - production 27 million kWh (2002) NA kWh
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


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


highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Environment - current issues NA 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 Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%, other 6.5% (2001 census) Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%


note: no indigenous population (2001)
Exchange rates New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000) Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999)
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 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
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Exports NA NA
Exports - commodities copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing phosphate
Exports - partners Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2000) Australia, NZ
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March 1 July - 30 June
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 the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory
GDP - purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 17%


industry: 7.8%


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


industry: NA


services: NA
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - real growth rate 7.1% (2001 est.) NA
Geographic coordinates 21 14 S, 159 46 W 10 30 S, 105 40 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 located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
Highways total: 320 km


paved: 33 km


unpaved: 287 km (2000)
total: 240 km


paved: 30 km


unpaved: 210 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Imports NA NA
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods consumer goods
Imports - partners New Zealand 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2000) principally Australia
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) none (territory of Australia)
Industrial production growth rate 1% (2002) NA
Industries fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Infant mortality rate total: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total: NA


male: NA


female: NA (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.2% (2000 est.) NA
International organization participation ACP, AsDB, FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO none
Irrigated land NA NA sq km
Judicial branch High Court Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force 8,000 (1996) NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56%


note: shortage of skilled labor (1995)
NA
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 17.39%


permanent crops: 13.04%


other: 69.57% (2001)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100%


note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (2001)
Languages English (official), Maori English (official), Chinese, Malay
Legal system based on New Zealand law and English common law under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
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
unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2005)


election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: 95%


male: NA%


female: NA%
NA
Location Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Map references Oceania Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,074 GRT/7,520 DWT


by type: petroleum tanker 1 (2005)
-
Military - note defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request defense is the responsibility of Australia
Military branches no regular military forces; Ministry of Police and Disaster Management (2004) -
National holiday Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965) Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Nationality noun: Cook Islander(s)


adjective: Cook Islander
noun: Christmas Islander(s)


adjective: Christmas Island
Natural hazards typhoons (November to March) the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Natural resources NEGL phosphate, beaches
Net migration rate - NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
People - note - The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1508 as of the 2001 Census
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] none
Political pressure groups and leaders NA none
Population 21,388 (July 2005 est.) 396 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA
Population growth rate NA -9% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Avatiu Flying Fish Cove
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Religions 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) Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Sex ratio NA NA (2004 est.)
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)
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network


domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available


international: country code - 61-891; satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
Telephones - main lines in use 6,200 (2002) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 1,500 (2002) NA
Television broadcast stations 1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004) NA
Terrain low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman (2005 est.) NA children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate 13% (1996) NA
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