Cook Islands

self-governing parliamentary government in free association with

Cook Islands as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 74 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 sq km

LocationOceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about

Populationas each edition published it

19,343 people July 1995 est. · 18,187 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.13% 1995 est. · 1.18% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 25.3 yrs in 2006

Life expectancyyears at birth

71.14 years 1995 est. · 71.14 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.27 children per woman 1995 est. · 3.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

24.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 24 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,000 1993 est. · $2,200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 5.3% in 1993

Geography

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about | one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

13 fields

Land useshare of 240 sq km

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

Area

240sq km

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

Coastline

120km

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

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Terrain

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

Environment

current issues:: NA
natural hazards:: typhoons (November to March)
international agreements:: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

People

15 fields

Population

19,343

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 1.13% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

23.05Death

5.2Net migration

-6.53

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)

Age structure

0-14 years:: NA
15-64 years:: NA
65 years and over:: NA

Infant mortality rate

24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 71.14 years
male:: 69.2 years
female:: 73.1 years (1995 est.)

Nationality

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

Religions

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

Government

Self-governing parliamentary government in free association with; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Prime Minister Geoffrey HENRY (since 1 February 1989)

19 fields

Legislature, 25 seatsone dot, one seat

Cook Islands Party 20Democratic Party 3Alliance Party 2

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)

Executive branch

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 Party, Norman GEORGE

Member of

AsDB, ESCAP (associate), ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), 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

$3,000

(1993 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

6.2%

(1990)

External debt

$124million

(1994)

Budget

Revenues

$38 millionExpenditures

$34.4 million (1993 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 14,000 kW

Electricity production

21 millionElectricity consumption per capita

741 (1993)

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.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $57 million (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$3.4 million (f.o.b., 1990)

commodities:: copra, fresh and canned fruit, clothing
partners:: NZ 80%, Japan

Imports

$50 million (c.i.f., 1990)

commodities:: foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber
partners:: NZ 49%, Japan, Australia, US

Industries

fruit processing, tourism

Agriculture

accounts for 12% of GDP, export crops - copra, citrus fruits, pineapples, tomatoes, bananas; subsistence crops - yams, taro

Economic aid

recipient:: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $128 million;
in 1994, Cook Islands received $4.3 million in budget support and $2.7 million in project aid from New Zealand, the country's largest source of aid