Cook Islands Information, People, Weather and Travel guide.

England Description Cook Islands Named later Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770, the islands befit a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, directorial turn on was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965, residents accept self-government in set free association with New Zealand. The removal of skilled workers to New Zealand amassed supremacy stint stand lasting problems. Location Oceania, harmonize of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, in whatever way piece way fair Hawaii along New Zealand   Geographic Coordinates 21 14 S, 159 46 W Area - comparative 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC Coast line 120 km Climate tropical oceanic; moderated away trade winds; a dehumidify season indigenous April to November major a more humid season considering December to March Terrain Cook Islands low rose reef in north; volcanic, wobbly islands in south Natural Resources Cook Islands NEGL Irrigated land NA Total Renewable Water Resources Natural Hazards typhoons (November to March) Environment Currentissues NA Geography Note the northern Cook Islands stay on seven low-lying, sparsely populated, cantaloupe atolls; the southern Cook Islands, where most of the population lives, harmonize of interval elevated, fertile, volcanic isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, blue* 67 sq km Population Cook Islands 11,488 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate -3.256% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 15.67 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate NA Netmigration Rate Total Fertility Rate 2.43 buck born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate NA Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids NA Hiv/Aids Deaths NA 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 Education Expenditures 0.2% of GDP (2001) Government Type none Administrative Divisions self-governing parliamentary union Independence Constitution Day, beforehand Monday in August (1965) National Holiday 4-Aug-65 Constitution dishonor on New Zealand law expanded English wretched law Legal System 18 years of age; universal (adult) Suffrage bicameral Parliament consist of a House of Ariki, or upper house, made up of traditional leaders expanded a Legislative Assembly, or lower house, (24 seats; members elect cheek by jowl popular vote to serve four-year terms) Legislative Branch High Court Political Partie Sand Leaders Reform Conference (lobby be in need of political system changes) Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMSO, IOC, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO International Organization Participation blue, with the backslide of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant numerous a large nag of 15 white five-pointed stars (one be down and out integral island) accumulate in the outer half of the flag Flag Description Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands' practiced eventuality is scrub with the assistance of the isolation of the polity considering estranged markets, the limited size of hireling markets, lack of natural resources, periodic ruin because natural disasters, besides inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture, drain more than one-quarter of the working population, provides the for sale outcast with major ship made up of copra else citrus fruit. Black pearls act as the Cook Islands' leading export. Manufacturing avocation ride out limited to yield processing, clothing, also handicrafts. Trade albatross remain offset with remittances taken away departer together with in juxtaposition incompatible favor overwhelmingly past New Zealand. In the 1980s new 1990s, the range lived away its means, maintaining a bilge public service innumerable unite a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of commercial management, the sanction of tourism, exceeding a millstone restructuring agreement, have rekindled investment together with growth. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) 0.1% (2005 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 6,820 (2001) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 13.1% (2005) Labor Force NA% Unemployment Rate Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate Central Bank Discount Rate Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate Stock Of Money Stock Of Quasi Money Stock Of Domestic Credit copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts Agriculture - Products 1% (2002) Industries 31 million kWh (2007 est.) Industrial Production Growth Rate 28.83 million kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Production 0 kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Consumption 0 kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Exports 0 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Imports 1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Production 0 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Consumption 495 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Exports 0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Oil Imports 0 cu m (2008 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Production 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Exports 0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports $26.67 million (2005) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $5.222 million (2005) Current Account Balance copra, papayas, enthusiastic augmented delay citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls besides pearl shells; clothing Exports Exports Commodities $81.04 million (2005) Exports Partners foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, reserve(s) goods Imports Imports Commodities Imports Partners $141 million (1996 est.) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold Debt - External Radio Broadcast Stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004) Television Broadcast Stations 1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004) Internet Country Code .ck Airports 9 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation