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.

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand

21 14 S, 159 46 W

Oceania

total: 236 sq km
country comparison to the world: 215
land: 236 sq km
water: 0 sq km

1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

0 km

120 km

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March

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

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m

NEGL

arable land: 8.33%
permanent crops: 4.17%
other: 87.5% (2011)

NA

typhoons (November to March)

NA

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

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

noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander

Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 81.3%, part Cook Island Maori 6.7%, other 11.9% (2011 est.)

English (official) 86.4%, Cook Islands Maori (Rarotongan) (official) 76.2%, other 8.3% (2011 est.)

Protestant 62.8% (Cook Islands Christian Church 49.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7.9%, Assemblies of God 3.7%, Apostolic Church 2.1%), Roman Catholic 17%, Mormon 4.4%, other 8%, none 5.6%, no response 2.2% (2011 est.)

10,447
country comparison to the world: 226
note: The Cook Islands' Ministry of Finance & Economic Management estimates the resident population to have been 13,700 in September 2013 (July 2013 est.)

0-14 years: 23.4% (male 1,297/female 1,150)
15-24 years: 18.1% (male 1,015/female 877)
25-54 years: 38% (male 1,995/female 1,971)
55-64 years: 9.9% (male 549/female 483)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 544/female 566) (2013 est.)

total: 33.7 years
male: 33 years
female: 34.3 years (2013 est.)

-3.07% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 233

14.93 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

7.66 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

urban population: 75% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

total: 14.81 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 113
male: 18.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

total population: 75.15 years
country comparison to the world: 96
male: 72.35 years
female: 78.09 years (2013 est.)

2.31 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

43.2% (1999)

5.5% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 121

2.89 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

NA

NA

NA

63.7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 3

3.2% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 138

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: NA
female: NA

total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2011)

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands
former: Harvey Islands

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

self-governing parliamentary democracy

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

none

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)

Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)

effective 4 August 1965 (Cook islands Constitution Act 1964); amended many times, last in 2004 (2004)

common law similar to New Zealand common law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) represented by Tom J. MARSTERS (since 9 August 2013); New Zealand High Commissioner Joanna KEMPKERS (since 19 July 2013)
head of government: Prime Minister Henry PUNA (since 30 November 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament

elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the UK representative appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes prime minister

bicameral Parliament consists of a House of Ariki, or upper house, made up of traditional leaders and a Legislative Assembly, or lower house, (24 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
note: the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence but has no legislative powers
elections: last held on 17 November 2010 (next to be held by 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CIP 16, Demo 8

highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and 3 judges of the High Court); High Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 4 judges and organized into civil, criminal, and land divisions)
judge selection and term of office: High Court chief justice appointed by the Queen's Representative on the advice of the Executive Council tendered by the prime minister; other judges appointed by the Queen's Representative, on the advice of the Executive Council tendered by the chief justice, High Court chief justice, and the minister of justice; chief justice and judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: justices of the peace

Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]

Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes)
other: various groups lobbying for political change

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

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

name: "Te Atua Mou E" (To God Almighty)
lyrics/music: Tepaeru Te RITO/Thomas DAVIS
note: adopted 1982; as prime minister, Sir Thomas DAVIS composed the anthem; his wife, a tribal chief, wrote the lyrics

Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture, employing more than one-quarter of the working population, provides the economic base with major exports of copra and citrus fruit. Black pearls are the Cook Islands' leading export. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are offset by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, the country lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated public service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of economic management, the encouragement of tourism, and a debt restructuring agreement, have rekindled investment and growth.

$183.2 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220

$183.2 million (2005 est.)

0.1% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

$9,100 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 12.7%
services: 82.1% (2010 est.)

copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry

fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts

1% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 121

6,820 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 219

agriculture: 29%
industry: 15%
services: 56% (1995)

13.1% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 134

NA%

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

revenues: $70.95 million
expenditures: $69.05 million (FY05/06)

38.7% of GDP (FY05/06)
country comparison to the world: 53

1% of GDP (FY05/06)
country comparison to the world: 34

1 April - 31 March

2.2% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

$38.99 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

$148.2 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188

$26.67 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 56

$5.222 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216

copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing

$83.49 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215

foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

$141 million (1996 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189

NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

31.13 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210

28.95 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210

0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177

8,090 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205

98.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164

1.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 120

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167

974.1 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167

484.7 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 128

75,400 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207

7,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 206

7,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 212

general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex
domestic: individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable
international: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

1 privately owned TV station broadcasts from Rarotonga providing a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs; a satellite program package is available; 6 radio stations broadcast with 1 reportedly reaching all of the islands (2009)

.ck

3,562 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 150

6,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 205

11 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 153

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m:

total: 320 km
country comparison to the world: 202
paved: 33 km
unpaved: 287 km (2003)

total: 35
country comparison to the world: 81
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 25, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 23 (Estonia 1, Germany 1, Lithuania 1, Norway 8, NZ 2, Russia 1, Sweden 3, Turkey 4, UK 2) (2010)

major seaport(s): Avatiu

no regular military forces; National Police Department (2009)

males age 16-49: 2,198
females age 16-49: 2,156 (2010 est.)

male: 127
female: 107 (2010 est.)

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request