The 2003 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

      ======================================================================

      @Cook Islands

      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

       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

      People Cook Islands

      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.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

       NA%

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

       NA

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

       NA

      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%

      Government Cook Islands

      Country name:

       conventional long form: none

       conventional short form: Cook Islands

       former: Harvey Islands

      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 and defense, in consultation

       with the Cook Islands

      Government type:

       self-governing parliamentary democracy

      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, 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 NA); New Zealand High

       Commissioner Kurt MEYER (since NA), representative of New Zealand

       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