home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Axion 3D Atlas
/
ATLAS.iso
/
stats
/
56.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1998-01-23
|
9KB
|
269 lines
{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\cook_is.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Cook Islands"}
{4}(free association with New Zealand)
{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of the Cook Islands, click {z,"-162.152434,-21.775033,-147.108508,-10.255079",here}{4}!
{2}Location:{4} Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from
Hawaii to New Zealand
{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 240 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 240 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly more than one times the size of Washington, DC
{2}Land boundaries:{4} 0 km
{2}Coastline:{4} 120 km
{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}continental shelf:{4} 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
{3}exclusive economic zone:{4} 200 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm
{2}International disputes:{4} none
{2}Climate:{4} tropical; moderated by trade winds
{2}Terrain:{4} low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
{3}lowest point:{4} Pacific Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Te Manga 652 m
{2}Natural resources:{4} negligible
{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 4%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 22%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 0%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 0%
{3}other:{4} 74%
{2}Irrigated land:{4} NA sq km
{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} NA
{2}natural hazards:{4} typhoons (November to March)
{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
{1}People{4}
{2}Population:{4} 19,561 (July 1996 est.)
{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} NA
{3}15-64 years:{4} NA
{3}65 years and over:{4} NA
{2}Population growth rate:{4} 1.11% (1996 est.)
{2}Birth rate:{4} 22.87 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
{2}Death rate:{4} 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
{2}Net migration rate:{4} -6.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} NA male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} NA male(s)/female
{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 71.14 years
{3}male:{4} 69.2 years
{3}female:{4} 73.1 years (1996 est.)
{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 3.25 children born/woman (1996 est.)
{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Cook Islander(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Cook Islander
{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and
non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%
{2}Religions:{4} Christian (majority of populace members of Cook Islands Christian Church)
{2}Languages:{4} English (official), Maori
{2}Literacy:{4} NA
{1}Government{4}
{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} none
{3}conventional short form:{4} Cook Islands
{2}Type of government:{4} 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
{2}Capital:{4} Avarua
{2}Administrative divisions:{4} none
{2}Independence:{4} 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)
{2}National holiday:{4} Constitution Day, 4 August
{2}Constitution:{4} 4 August 1965
{2}Legal system:{4} NA
{2}Suffrage:{4} NA years of age; universal adult
{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} 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
{1}Government{4}
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey A. HENRY (since 1 February 1989); Deputy
Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1 February 1989)
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet; collectively responsible to Parliament
{2}Legislative branch:{4} 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
{3}note:{4} the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers
{2}Judicial branch:{4} High Court
{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY; Democratic Party, Sir Thomas
DAVIS; Democratic Alliance Party, Norman GEORGE
{2}International organization participation:{4} AsDB, ESCAP (associate), ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), IOC, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO
{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4} none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
{2}US diplomatic representation:{4} none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
{2}Flag:{4} 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
{1}Economy{4}
{2}Economic overview:{4} 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.
{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $57 million (1993 est.)
{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} NA%
{2}GDP per capita:{4} $3,000 (1993 est.)
{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} NA%
{3}industry:{4} NA%
{3}services:{4} NA%
{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 6.2% (1990)
{2}Labor force:{4} 5,810
{3}by occupation:{4} agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry 15%, other 4% (1981)
{2}Unemployment rate:{4} NA%
{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $NA
{3}expenditures:{4} $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
{2}Industries:{4} fruit processing, tourism
{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} NA%
{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 14,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 21 million kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 741 kWh (1993)
{2}Agriculture:{4} copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, bananas, yams, taro
{2}Exports:{4} $3.4 million (f.o.b., 1990)
{3}commodities:{4} copra, fresh and canned fruit, clothing
{3}partners:{4} NZ 80%, Japan
{2}Imports:{4} $50 million (c.i.f., 1990)
{3}commodities:{4} foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber
{3}partners:{4} NZ 49%, Japan, Australia, US
{2}External debt:{4} $160 million (1994)
{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $NA
{3}note:{4} in 1994, Cook Islands received $5.4 million in budget support and $3.3 million in project aid
from New Zealand, the country's largest source of aid
{2}Currency:{4} 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
{2}Exchange rates:{4} New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138 (January 1996), 1.5235 (1995),
1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991)
{2}Fiscal year:{4} 1 April - 31 March
{1}Transportation{4}
{2}Railways:{4} 0 km
{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 187 km
{3}paved:{4} 35 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 152 km (1980 est.)
{2}Ports:{4} Avarua, Avatiu
{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,464 GRT/2,181 DWT (1995 est.)
{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 7
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 1
{3}with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 3
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 3 (1995 est.)
{1}Communications{4}
{2}Telephones:{4} 4,180 (1994)
{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} the 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
{3}international:{4} satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1
{2}Radios:{4} 13,000 (1992 est.)
{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 1 studio and 8 low-powered repeaters to achieve good coverage on
the island of Rarotonga
{2}Televisions:{4} 3,500 (1995 est.)
{1}Defense{4}
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand