Cook Islands
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Cook Islands Geography 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 land: 240 sq km water: 0 sq km AreaŃcomparative: 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 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 Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Te Manga 652 m Natural resources: NEGL Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 78% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: typhoons (November to March) EnvironmentŃcurrent issues: NA EnvironmentŃinternational agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: NA People Population: 19,989 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA Population growth rate: 1.06% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 22.52 births/1,000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: -6.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.14 years male: 69.2 years female: 73.1 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.19 children born/woman (1998 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: NA Government Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands Data code: CW Dependency status: self-governing 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 Government type: self-governing parliamentary democracy National capital: Avarua 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, 4 August 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 of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Jon JONESSEN (since NA January 1998), representative of New Zealand head of government: Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey A. HENRY (since 1 February 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1 February 1989) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; the queen's representative is appointed by the queen; the New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 6 March 1994 (next to be held by NA 1999) election results: percent of vote by partyŃNA; seats by partyŃCook Islands Party 20, Democratic Party 3, Democratic 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 leaders: Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY; Democratic Party, Sir Thomas DAVIS; Democratic Alliance Party, Norman GEORGE International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) Diplomatic representation 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 EconomyŃoverview: Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign 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 made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In 1996, the government declared bankruptcy, citing a $120 million public debt. Efforts to exploit tourism potential and expanding the mining and fishing industries have not been enough to adequately deal with the financial crisis. In an effort to stem further erosion of the economy, the government slashed public service salaries by 50%, condensed the number of government ministries from 52 to 22, reduced the number of civil servants by more than half, began selling government assets, and closed all overseas diplomatic posts except for the one in New Zealand. GDP: purchasing power parityŃ$79 million (1994 est.) GDPŃreal growth rate: NA% GDPŃper capita: purchasing power parityŃ$4,000 (1994 est.) GDPŃcomposition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 6% services: 77% (FY90/91) Inflation rateŃconsumer price index: 2.6% (1994 est.) Labor force: total: 6,601 (1993) by occupation: agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry 15%, other 4% (1981) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA Industries: fruit processing, tourism Industrial production growth rate: NA% ElectricityŃcapacity: 6,000 kW (1995) ElectricityŃproduction: 15 million kWh (1995) ElectricityŃconsumption per capita: 775 kWh (1995) AgricultureŃproducts: copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee Exports: total value: $4.2 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: copra, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing partners: NZ 80%, Japan, Hong Kong (1993) Imports: total value: $85 million (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods partners: NZ 49%, Italy, Australia (1993) DebtŃexternal: $160 million (1994) Economic aid: recipient: roughly $16 million annually, 1985-95, with New Zealand furnishing 88% of the total Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1Ń1.7283 (January 1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993) Fiscal year: 1 AprilŃ31 March Communications Telephones: 4,180 (1994) Telephone system: 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: satellite earth stationŃ1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 Radios: 13,000 (1994 est.) Television broadcast stations: 1 studio and 8 low-powered repeaters achieve good coverage on the island of Rarotonga Televisions: 3,500 (1995 est.) Transportation Railways: 0 km Highways: total: 187 km paved: 35 km unpaved: 152 km (1980 est.) Ports and harbors: Avarua, Avatiu Merchant marine: total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,464 GRT/2,181 DWT (1997 est.) Airports: 7 (1997 est.) AirportsŃwith paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.) AirportsŃwith unpaved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.) Military MilitaryŃnote: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request Transnational Issues DisputesŃinternational: none