Statistical information Cook Islands 1995

Cook Islands in the World
top of pageBackground: 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. Residents chose self-government with free association with New Zealand in 1965. The emigration of Cook Islanders to New Zealand in large numbers and resulting loss of skilled labor and government deficits are continuing problems.
top of pageLocation: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
OceaniaAreaTotal area total: 240 km²
Land: 240 km²
Comparative: slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
ElevationNatural resources: negligible
Land useArable land: 4%
Permanent crops: 22%
Meadows and pastures: 0%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 74%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
top of pagePopulation: 19,343 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 1.13% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: Cook Islander(s)
Adjective: Cook Islander
Ethnic groups: Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and other 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%
Languages: English (official), Maori
Religions: Christian (majority of populace members of Cook Islands Christian Church)
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 1.13% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 23.05 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.53 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: NA
Current issues natural hazards: typhoons (November to March)
Current issues international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 71.14 years
Male: 69.2 years
Female: 73.1 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.27 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: NA%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Cook Islands
Government 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
Capital: Avarua
Administrative divisions: none
Dependent areasIndependence: 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)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 4 August
Constitution: 4 August 1965
Legal system: NA
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal adult at age NA
Executive branchChief 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
Legislative branch: unicameral
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
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP (associate), ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
From the us: none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA%
Real gdp per capita: $3,000 (1993 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 12% of GDP, export crops - copra, citrus fruits, pineapples, tomatoes, bananas; subsistence crops - yams, taro
Industries: fruit processing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%; accounts for 5% of GDP
Labor force: 5,810
By occupation agriculture: 29%
By occupation government: 27%
By occupation services: 25%
By occupation industry: 15%
By occupation other: 4% (1981)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $38 million
Expenditures: $34.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $3.4 million (f.o.b., 1990)
Commodoties: copra, fresh and canned fruit, clothing
Partners: NZ 80%, Japan
Imports: $50 million (c.i.f., 1990)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber
Partners: NZ 49%, Japan, Australia, US
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $124 million (1994)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5601 (January 1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 14,000 kW
Production: 21 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 741 kWh (1993)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone system: 2,052 telephones
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 7
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2438 m: 3
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: total:1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,464 GRT/2,181 DWT
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs