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@Cook Islands (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Cook Islands
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.
Geography ::Cook Islands
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 236 sq km country comparison to the world: 214 land: 236 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - 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
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)
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
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 sq km
People ::Cook Islands
Population:
11,488 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 223
Age structure:
0–14 years: 27.1% (male 1,704/female 1,508)
15–64 years: 63.7% (male 3,898/female 3,664)
65 years and over: 9.2% (male 540/female 556) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.2 years
male: 30.5 years
female: 31.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
−3.256% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 231
Birth rate:
15.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Death rate:
7.22 deaths/1,000 population NA country comparison to the world: 127
Urbanization:
urban population: 74% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: −0.7% annual rate of change (2005–10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.046 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.33 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 116 male: 19.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.47 years country comparison to the world: 94 male: 71.69 years
female: 77.38 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.43 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS
