Cook Islands (2006) | Christmas Island (2004) | |
Administrative divisions | none | none (territory of Australia) |
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) |
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 (2006) | 1 (2003 est.) |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006) |
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 (2006) |
- |
Area | total: 236.7 sq km
land: 236.7 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 | 21 births/1,000 population (2001 census) | NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
Budget | revenues: $70.95 million
expenditures: $69.05 million; including capital expenditures of $5.744 million (FY00/01 est.) |
revenues: NA
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA |
Capital | name: Avarua
geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
The Settlement |
Climate | tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March | 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 deaths/1,000 population | 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, employing about 70% of the working population, provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Black pearls are the Cook Island's 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. | 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 | 34.46 million kWh (2005 est.) | NA kWh |
Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2003) | - |
Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2003) | - |
Electricity - production | 28 million kWh (2003) | 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 - 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001) | 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 John BRYAN (since 6 September 2005), 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 bbl/day | 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% (2004) | 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: 15.1%
industry: 9.6% services: 75.3% (2000 est.) |
agriculture: NA
industry: NA services: NA |
GDP - per capita | - | purchasing power parity - NA |
GDP - real growth rate | 0.1% (2005 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, where most of the population lives, consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at 67 sq km | located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean |
Highways | - | 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 bbl/day | NA |
Imports - commodities | foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods | consumer goods |
Imports - partners | New Zealand 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2004) | 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) | 2.1% (2005 est.) | NA |
International organization participation | ACP, AsDB, FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO | none |
Irrigated land | NA | NA sq km |
Judicial branch | High Court | Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court |
Labor force | 6,820 (2001) | NA |
Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 29%
industry: 15% services: 56% (1995) |
NA |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 8.33% other: 75% (2005) |
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 | bicameral Parliament consisting of a lower house or Legislative Assembly with 25 seats (24 seats representing districts of the Cook Islands and one seat representing Cook Islanders living overseas; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and an upper house or House of Ariki made up of traditional leaders
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 note: the House of Ariki 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: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 48,422 GRT/51,900 DWT
by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3 foreign-owned: 5 (Norway 1, NZ 1, Sweden 3) (2006) |
- |
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 (2005) | - |
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 | 2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017 | The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1508 as of the 2001 Census |
Political parties and leaders | Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]; Democratic Party or Demo [Dr. Terepai MAOATE] | none |
Political pressure groups and leaders | NA | none |
Population | 21,388 (July 2006 est.) | 396 (July 2004 est.) |
Population below poverty line | NA% | NA |
Population growth rate | -1.2% between 1996-2001 (2001 census) | -9% (2004 est.) |
Ports and harbors | - | 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 Adventists 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 | 107 male(s)/female (2001 census) | 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 | 3.1 children born/woman (2001 census) | NA children born/woman (2004 est.) |
Unemployment rate | 13.1% (2005) | NA |