Cook Islands Population: 10,447


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Geographic coordinates: 21 14 S, 159 46 W
Area: total: 236 sq km
land: 236 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Size comparison: 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
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 8.33%
permanent crops: 4.17%
other: 87.5% (2011)
Irrigated land: NA
Natural hazards: typhoons (November to March)
Current Environment Issues: NA
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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)
Languages: English (official), Maori
Religions: Protestant 69.6% (Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7.9%, other Protestant 5.8%), Roman Catholic 16.8%, Mormon 3.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census)
Population: 10,447 (July 2013 est.)
Age structure: 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.)
Median age: total: 33.7 years
male: 33 years
female: 34.3 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate: -3.07% (2013 est.)
Birth rate: 14.93 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
Death rate: 7.66 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
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
Infant mortality rate: total: 14.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.15 years
male: 72.35 years
female: 78.09 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.31 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 43.2% (1999)
Health expenditures: 4.4% of GDP (2010)
Physicians density: 1.18 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
Drinking water source: improved:
urban: 99% of population
rural: 87% of population
total: 95% of population

urban: 1% of population
rural: 13% of population
total: 5% of population (2000 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2010 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 63.7% (2008)
Education expenditures: 3.2% of GDP (2011)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: NA
female: NA
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2011)
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Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands
former: Harvey Islands
Government type: self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital: name: Avarua
geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W
Administrative divisions: none
Constitution: 4 August 1965
Legal system: common law similar to New Zealand common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) represented by Sir Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner John CARTER (since 29 July 2011)


cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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
Legislative branch: 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

subordinate courts: justices of the peace
Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA] Democratic Party or Demo [Dr. Terepai MAOATE]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes) other: various groups lobbying for political change
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
lyrics/music: Tepaeru Te RITO/Thomas DAVIS

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GDP (purchasing power parity): GDP (purchasing power parity): $183.2 million (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): GDP (official exchange rate): $183.2 million (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): GDP - per capita (PPP): $9,100 (2005 est.)
Industries: fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (2002)
Labor force: 6,820 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 29%
industry: 15%
services: 56% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 13.1% (2005)
Population below poverty line: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget: revenues: $70.95 million
expenditures: $69.05 million (FY05/06)
Taxes and other revenues: 38.7% of GDP (FY05/06)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (2011 est.) 2.2% (2011 est.)
Current account balance: $26.67 million (2005)
Exports: $5.222 million (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities: copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Imports: $83.49 million (2011 est.) $80.55 million (2010 est.)
Debt - external: $141 million (1996 est.)
Exchange rates: NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.2334 (2012) 1.2659 (2011 est.) 1.3874 (2010) 1.6002 (2009) 1.4151 (2008)
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Electricity - production: 31.13 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 210
Electricity - consumption: 28.95 million kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 8,090 kW (2009 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 98.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 974 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 484.7 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: 302,000 Mt (2010 est.)
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Telephones in use: 7,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 205
Cellular Phones in use: 7,800 (2009)


Internet country code: .ck
Internet hosts: 3,562 (2012)
Internet users: 6,000 (2009)
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Airports: 11 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 153
Airports (paved runways): total 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Airports (unpaved runways): total 10

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Roadways: total 320 km
paved: 33 km
unpaved: 287 km (2003)
Merchant marine: total 35


Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Avatiu
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Military branches: no regular military forces; National Police Department (2009)
Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 2,198
females age 16-49: 2,156 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 127
female: 107 (2010 est.)
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 Transnational Issues
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   Source: CIA - The World Factbook

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