meadows and pastures: 0%forest and woodland: 0%
other: 74%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: typhoons (November to March)
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Law of the Sea
People———
Population: 19,561 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0–14 years: NA 15–64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.11% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 22.87 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: −6.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15–64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
all ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.14 years male: 69.2 years female: 73.1 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.25 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander
Ethnic divisions: 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 members of Cook Islands
Christian Church)
Languages: English (official), Maori
Literacy: NA
Government—————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands
Data code: CW
Type of government: 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
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: NA
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Apenera
SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Darryl DUNN (since
NA 1994), representative of New Zealand was appointed by the New
Zealand Government
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey A. HENRY (since 1
February 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1
February 1989)
cabinet: Cabinet; collectively responsible to Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament: elections last held 6 March 1994 (next to be held NA
1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (25 total)
Cook 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),
ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, Sparteca, SPC,
SPF, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing in free
association with New Zealand)
US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing in free
association with New Zealand)
Flag: 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———
Economic 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 by foreign aid, largely from New Zealand. Current economic development plans call for exploiting the tourism potential and expanding the mining and fishing industries. Despite these plans, the Cook Islands will continue to face severe financial problems.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $57 million (1993 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $3,000 (1993 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture:
