Background: 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; in 1965 residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems.

Geographic coordinates: 21 14 S 159 46 W

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 236.7 km²
Land: 236.7 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: 1.3 times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 120 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate: tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March

Terrain: low coral atolls in north; volcanic hilly islands in south

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Te Manga 652 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use
Arable land: 16.67%
Permanent crops: 8.33%
Other: 75% (2005)

Irrigated land: NA

Natural hazards: typhoons (November to March)

Geography
Note: the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying sparsely populated coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands where most of the population lives consist of eight elevated fertile volcanic isles including the largest Rarotonga at 67 km²

Population: 21,388 (July 2006 est.)
Growth rate: -1.2% between 1996-2001 (2001 census)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Cook Islander
Adjective: Cook Islander

Ethnic groups: Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7% part Cook Island Maori 5.8% other 6.5% (2001 census)

Languages: English (official) Maori

Religions: Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9% Roman Catholic 16.8% Seventh-Day Adventists 7.9% Church of Latter Day Saints 3.8% other Protestant 5.8% other 4.2% unspecified 2.6% none 3% (2001 census)

Age structure
0-14 years: 34.1% (male 2,718/female 2,388)
15-64 years: 59.5% (male 4,531/female 4,395)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 489/female 469) (2001 census)

Median age
Total: 25.3 years
Male: 24.7 years
Female: 25.9 years (2001 census)

Population growth rate: -1.2% between 1996-2001 (2001 census)

Birth rate: 21 births/1000 population (2001 census)

Death rate: NA deaths/1000 population

Environment
Current issues: NA
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio: 107 male(s)/female (2001 census)

Infant mortality rate
Total: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (2001 census)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Literacy
Definition: NA
Total population: 95%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Cook Islands
Former: Harvey Islands

Government type: self-governing parliamentary democracy

Capital
Name: Avarua
Geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W
Time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: none

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)

National holiday: Constitution Day first Monday in August (1965)

Constitution: 4 August 1965

Legal system: based on New Zealand law and English common law

Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since 6 September 2005), representative of New Zealand
Head of government: Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Terepai MAOATE (since 9 August 2005)
Cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament
Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes prime minister

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 26 September 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
Election results: percent of vote by party - Demo 51.9%, CIP 45.5%, independent 2.7%; seats by party - Demo 15, CIP 8, independent 1
Note: the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers

Judicial branch: High Court

Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]; Democratic Party or Demo [Dr. Terepai MAOATE]

International organization participation: ACP AsDB FAO ICAO ICFTU ICRM IFAD IFRCS IOC OPCW PIF Sparteca SPC UNESCO UPU WHO WMO

Diplomatic representation
In 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

Economy overview: Like many other South Pacific island nations the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets the limited size of domestic markets lack of natural resources periodic devastation from natural disasters and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture employing about 70% of the working population provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Black pearls are the Cook Island's leading export. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit processing clothing and handicrafts. Trade deficits are offset by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s the country lived beyond its means maintaining a bloated public service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms including the sale of state assets the strengthening of economic management the encouragement of tourism and a debt restructuring agreement have rekindled investment and growth.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $183.2 million (2005 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 0.1% (2005 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $9,100 (2005 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 15.1%
Industry: 9.6%
Services: 75.3% (2000 est.)

Agriculture products: copra citrus pineapples tomatoes beans pawpaws bananas yams taro coffee; pigs poultry

Industries: fruit processing tourism fishing clothing handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: 1% (2002)

Labor force: 6,820 (2001)
By occupation agriculture: 29%
By occupation industry: 15%
By occupation services: 56% (1995)

Unemployment rate: 13.1% (2005)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Budget
Revenues: $70.95 million
Expenditures: $69.05 million; including capital expenditures of $5.744 million (FY00/01 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.1% (2005 est.)

Current account balance: $26.67 million

Exports: $5.222 million (2005)
Commodities: copra papayas fresh and canned citrus fruit coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Partners: Australia 34% Japan 27% New Zealand 25% US 8% (2004)

Imports: $81.04 million (2005)
Commodities: foodstuffs textiles fuels timber capital goods
Partners: New Zealand 61% Fiji 19% US 9% Australia 6% Japan 2% (2004)

Debt external: $141 million (1996 est.)

Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.4203 (2005) 1.5087 (2004) 1.7221 (2003) 2.1622 (2002) 2.3788 (2001)

Electricity
Production: 28 million kWh (2003)
Consumption: 34.46 million kWh (2005 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2003)
Imports: 0 kWh (2003)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2003 est.)
Consumption: 0 m³ (2003 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 6,200 (2002)
Mobile cellular: 1500 (2002)

Telephone system
General assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex
Domestic: the individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable
International: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Internet
Country code: .ck
Hosts: 1456 (2006)
Users: 3,600 (2002)

Airports: 9 (2006)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2 (2006)
With unpaved runways total: 7
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways
Total: 320 km
Paved: 33 km
Unpaved: 287 km (2003)

Merchant marine
Total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 48,422 GRT/51,900 DWT
By type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3
Foreign owned: 5 (Norway 1, NZ 1, Sweden 3) (2006)

Ports and terminals: Avatiu

Disputes international: none