Cook Islands
self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New
Cook Islands as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 105 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Oceania, Polynesia, 4,500 km south of Hawaii in the South Pacific | Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
23 fieldsLocation
Oceania, Polynesia, 4,500 km south of Hawaii in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
total area
240 sq km
land area
240 sq km
comparative area
slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
continental shelf
200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
arable land
4%
permanent crops
22%
meadows and pastures
0%
forest and woodland
0%
other
74%
current issues
NA
natural hazards
subject to typhoons (November to March)
international agreements
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
People
20 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1994 est.)
total population
71.14 years
male
69.2 years
female
73.1 years (1994 est.)
noun
Cook Islander(s)
adjective
Cook Islander
total population
NA%
male
NA%
female
NA%
by occupation
agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry 15%, other 4% (1981)
Government
Self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New
23 fieldsLegislature, 25 seatsone dot, one seat
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)
chief of state
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
- Representative of the Queen Apenera SHORT (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 1 February 1989)
cabinet
Cabinet; collectively responsible to the Parliament
Parliament
- elections last held 24 March 1994 (next to be held NA);
- results - percent of vote by party NA;
- seats - (25 total) Cook Islands Party 20, Democratic Party 3, Alliance Party 2
note
the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers
Political parties and leaders
- Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY;
- Democratic Party, Sir Thomas DAVIS;
- Cook Islands Labor Party, Rena JONASSEN;
- Cook Islands People's Party, Sadaraka SADARAKA;
- Alliance, Norman GEORGE
Member of
AsDB, ESCAP (associate), ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO
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.
25 fieldsOverview
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, largely from New Zealand. Current economic development plans call for exploiting the tourism potential and expanding the fishing industry.
revenues
$38 million
expenditures
$34.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
commodities
copra, fresh and canned fruit, clothing
partners
NZ 80%, Japan
commodities
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber
partners
NZ 49%, Japan, Australia, US
capacity
14,000 kW
production
21 million kWh
consumption per capita
1,170 kWh (1990)
Agriculture
accounts for 12% of GDP, export crops - copra, citrus fruits, pineapples, tomatoes, bananas; subsistence crops - yams, taro
recipient
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $128 million
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.7771 (January 1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6708 (1989)
Communications
12 fieldstotal
187 km
paved
35 km
unpaved
gravel 35 km; improved earth 84 km; unimproved earth 33 km (1980)
total
7
usable
7
with permanent-surface runways
1
with runways over 3,659 m
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
5
Telecommunications
- broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
- 11,000 radio receivers;
- 17,000 TV receivers (1989);
- 2,052 telephones;
- 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Defense Forces
2 fieldsCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Cook Islands.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cook-islands/1994.