Cook Islands

self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New

Cook Islands as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 72 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

LocationOceania, 4,500 km south of Hawaii in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway

Populationas each edition published it

18,903 people July 1993 est. · 18,187 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.18% 1993 est. · -2.15% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 25.3 yrs in 2006

Life expectancyyears at birth

71.14 years 1993 est. · 77.6 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.32 children per woman 1993 est. · 3.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

24.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 24 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,200 1988 est. · $29,800 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

5.3% 1986-88 est. · 10.5% in 2025

Geography

Oceania, 4,500 km south of Hawaii in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway | between Hawaii and New Zealand

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

Area

240km2

land area: 240 km2comparative area: slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

120km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

Oceania, 4,500 km south of Hawaii in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

Terrain

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

Environment

subject to typhoons from November to March

People

14 fields

Population

18,903

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 1.18% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

23.4Death

5.2Net migration

-6.45

Ethnic divisions

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

Labor force

5,810

by occupation: agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry 15%, other 4% (1981)

Infant mortality rate

24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 71.14 years
male:: 69.2 years
female:: 73.1 years (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Cook Islander(s)
adjective:: Cook Islander

Religions

Christian (majority of populace members of Cook Islands Christian Church)

Literacy

total population:: NA%
male:: NA%
female:: NA%

Government

Self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New

20 fields

Names

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Cook Islands

Type

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

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)

Political parties and leaders

Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY;
Democratic Tumu Party, Vincent INGRAM;
Democratic Party, Terepai MAOATE;
Cook Islands Labor Party, Rena JONASSEN;
Cook Islands People's Party, Sadaraka SADARAKA

Elections

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

Executive branch

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

Legislative branch

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

Leaders

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 1 February 1989);
Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since NA February 1989)

Member of

AsDB, ESCAP (associate), ICAO, IOC, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in US

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

US 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.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,200

(1988 est.)

Real growth rate

5.3%

(1986-88 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

(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.