The 2008 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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: 236.7 sq km land: 236.7 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 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, 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:

      12,271 (July 2008 est.)

      Age structure:

      0–14 years: (male 1,834/female 1,624) 15–64 years: (male 3,973/female 3,747) 65 years and over: (male 542/female 551)

      Median age:

      total: 29.8 years male: 29 years female: 30.4 years (2001 census)

      Population growth rate:

      NA (2008 est.)

      Birth rate:

      16.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

      Death rate:

      NA (2008 est.)

      Sex ratio:

      total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2001 census)

      Infant mortality rate:

      total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth:

      total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

      3.1 children born/woman (2008 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:

      Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%, other 6.5% (2001 census)

      Religions:

      Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic 16.8%,

       Seventh-Day Adventists 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints 3.8%, other

       Protestant 5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census)

      Languages:

      English (official), Maori

      Literacy:

      definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%

      School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

      total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 10 years (2005)

      Education expenditures:

      0.2% of GDP (2001)

      People - note:

      2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017

      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:

      name: Avarua geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

      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 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner Brian DONNELLY (since 21 February 2008), representative of New Zealand head of government: Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Terepai MAOATE (since 9 August 2005) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament elections: the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New