The 1992 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Army, Navy (including Naval Infantry), Air Force, National Police

       Manpower availability:

       males 15-49, 526,058; 267,393 fit for military service; 23,884 reach

       military age (20) annually

       Defense expenditures:

       exchange rate conversion - $100 million, 4.6% of GDP (1987 est.)

      :Cook Islands Geography

      Total area:

       240 km2

       Land area:

       240 km2

       Comparative area:

       slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

       Land boundaries:

       none

       Coastline:

       120 km

       Maritime claims:

       Continental shelf:

       edge of continental margin or minimum of 200 nm

       Exclusive economic zone:

       200 nm

       Territorial sea:

       12 nm

       Disputes:

       none

       Climate:

       tropical; moderated by trade winds

       Terrain:

       low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south

       Natural resources:

       negligible

       Land use:

       arable land 4%; permanent crops 22%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and

       woodland 0%; other 74%

       Environment:

       subject to typhoons from November to March

       Note:

       located 4,500 km south of Hawaii in the South Pacific Ocean

      :Cook Islands People

      Population:

       17,977 (July 1992), growth rate 0.5% (1992)

       Birth rate:

       22 births/1,000 population (1992)

       Death rate:

       6 deaths/1,000 population (1992)

       Net migration rate:

       -10 migrants/1,000 population (1992)

       Infant mortality rate:

       25 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)

       Life expectancy at birth:

       69 years male, 73 years female (1992)

       Total fertility rate:

       3.0 children born/woman (1992)

       Nationality:

       noun - Cook Islander(s); adjective - Cook Islander

       Ethnic divisions:

       Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and

       other 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% (male NA%, female NA%)

       Labor force:

       5,810; agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry 15%, and

       other 4% (1981)

       Organized labor:

       NA

      :Cook Islands Government

      Long-form name:

       none

       Type:

       self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands fully

       responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for

       external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands

       Capital:

       Avarua

       Administrative divisions:

       none

       Independence:

       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

       Constitution:

       4 August 1965

       National holiday:

       Constitution Day, 4 August

       Executive branch:

       British monarch, representative of the UK, representative of New Zealand,

       prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

       Legislative branch:

       unicameral Parliament; note - the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on

       traditional matters, but has no legislative powers

       Judicial branch:

       High Court

       Leaders:

       Chief of State:

       Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Representative of the UK Sir

       Tangaroa TANGAROA (since NA); Representative of New Zealand Adrian SINCOCK

       (since NA)

       Head of Government:

       Prime Minister Geoffrey HENRY (since 1 February 1989); Deputy Prime Minister

       Inatio AKARURU (since February 1989)

       Political parties and leaders:

       Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY; Democratic Tumu Party, Vincent INGRAM;

       Democratic Party, Terepai MAOATE; Cook Islands Labor Party, Rena JONASSEN;

       Cook Islands People's Party, Sadaraka SADARAKA

       Suffrage:

       universal adult at age NA

       Elections:

       Parliament:

       last held 19 January 1989 (next to be held by January 1994); results -

       percent of vote by party NA; seats - (24 total) Cook Islands Party 12,

       Democratic Tumu Party 2, opposition coalition (including Democratic Party)

       9, independent 1

       Member of:

       AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, IOC, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO

       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

      :Cook Islands Economy

      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