Cook Islands

self-governing in free association with New Zealand

Cook Islands as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 64 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalAvarua

Area240 km2

Populationas each edition published it

18,187 people July 1990 · 7,592 in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 1.18% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 25.3 yrs in 2006

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 71.14 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.5 children per woman 1990 · 1.99 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

24 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 14.8 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $2,200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 5.3% in 1993

Geography

13 fields

Land useshare of 240 km2

arable land 4%permanent crops 22%forest and woodland 0%other 74%meadows and pastures 0% in all

Total area

240km2

land area: 240 km2Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

120km

land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Continental shelf

200 meters or edge of continental margin;

Terrain

low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south

Environment

subject to typhoons from November to March

Note

located 4,500 km south of Hawaii in the South Pacific Ocean

People

14 fields

Population

18,187

(July 1990), growth rate 0.5% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

22Death

Ethnic divisions

Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%Polynesian and European 7.7%Polynesian and other 7.7%European 2.4%other 0.9%

Nationality

noun--Cook Islander(s); adjective--Cook Islander

Religion

Christian, majority of populace members of Cook Islands Christian Church

Labor force

5,810; agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry 15%, and other 4% (1981)

Government

Self-governing in free association with New Zealand

15 fields

NA Parliament, 24 seats, elected 19 January 1989one dot, one seat

Cook Islands Party 12Democratic Tumu Party 2opposition coalition (including Democratic Party) 9independent 1

Type

self-governing in free association with New Zealand;
Cook Islands fully responsible for internal affairs;
New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands

Independence

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

Executive branch

British monarch, representative of the UK, representative of New Zealand, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament; note--the unicameral House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers

Judicial branch

High Court Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
Representative of the UK Sir Tangaroa TANGAROA (since NA);
Representative of New Zealand Adrian SINCOCK (since NA);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Geoffrey HENRY (since NA February 1989);
Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since NA)

Political parties and leaders

Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey Henry;
Democratic Tumu Party, Vincent Ingram;
Democratic Party, Dr. Vincent Pupuke Robati;
Cook Islands Labor Party, Rena Jonassen;
Cook Islands People's Party, Sadaraka Sadaraka

Suffrage

universal adult at age NA Parliament--last held 19 January 1989 (next to be held by January 1994);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(24 total) Cook Islands Party 12, Democratic Tumu Party 2, opposition coalition (including Democratic Party) 9, independent 1

Member of

ADB, ESCAP (associate member), IDA, IFC, IMF, SPEC, SPF

Diplomatic representation

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Flag

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

Economy

Agriculture provides the economic base.

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$40.0million

per capita $2,200 (1988 est.); real growth rate 5.3% (1986-88 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

8.0%

(1988)

Budget

Revenues

$33.8 millionExpenditures

$34.4 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

Agriculture provides the economic base. The major export earners are fruit, copra, and clothing. Manufacturing activities are limited to a fruit-processing plant and several clothing factories. Economic development is hindered by the isolation of the islands from foreign markets and a lack of natural resources and good transportation links.

A large trade deficit is annually made up for by remittances from emigrants and from foreign aid. Current economic development plans call for exploiting the tourism potential and expanding the fishing industry.