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| Cook Islands |
 Click to enlarge |
Home Reference Maps Appendixes
| 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. |
| Location: |
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
21 14 S, 159 46 W |
| Map
references: |
Oceania |
| Area: |
total: 240 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 240 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC |
| Land
boundaries: |
0 km |
| Coastline: |
120 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
| Climate: |
tropical; moderated by trade winds |
| Terrain: |
low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Te Manga 652 m |
| Natural
resources: |
NEGL |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 17.39% permanent crops: 13.04% other: 69.57% (1998 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
NA sq km |
| Natural
hazards: |
typhoons (November to March) |
| Environment
- current issues: |
NA |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography
- note: |
the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated, coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles where most of the populace lives |
| Population: |
21,008 (July 2003 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
NA% (2003 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
NA (2003 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
total: NA% male: NA% female: NA% |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years (2003 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
NA children born/woman (2003 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9% |
| Religions: |
Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands Christian Church) |
| Languages: |
English (official), Maori |
| Literacy: |
definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA% |
| 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 provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. 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. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $105 million (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
7.1% (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 17% industry: 7.8% services: 75.2% (2000 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
3.2% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
8,000 (1996) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% note: shortage of skilled labor (1995) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
13% (1996) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $28 million expenditures: $27 million, including capital expenditures of $3.3 million (FY00/01 est.) |
| Industries: |
fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
1% (2002) |
| Electricity
- production: |
27.43 million kWh (2001) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
25.51 million kWh (2001) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (2001) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh (2001) |
| Oil
- production: |
0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
| Oil
- consumption: |
450 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
| Oil
- exports: |
NA (2001) |
| Oil
- imports: |
NA (2001) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry |
| Exports: |
$9.1 million (2000) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing |
| Exports
- partners: |
Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2000) |
| Imports: |
$50.7 million (2000) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods |
| Imports
- partners: |
NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2000) |
| Debt
- external: |
$141 million (1996 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater part (1995) |
| Currency: |
New Zealand dollar (NZD) |
| Currency
code: |
NZD |
| Exchange
rates: |
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.3535 (January 2002), 2.3776 (2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997) |
| Fiscal
year: |
1 April - 31 March |
 |
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| Cook
Islands |
| |
