cw.json

{"code":"cw","name":"Cook Islands","region":"Australia-Oceania","background":"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.","geo":{"Location":"Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand","Geographic coordinates":{"S":{"deg":21,"min":14},"W":{"deg":159,"min":46}},"Map references":{},"Area":{"total":{"quantity":236,"unit":"sq km"},"country comparison to the world":"","land":{"quantity":236,"unit":"sq km"},"water":{"quantity":0,"unit":"sq km"}},"Area - comparative":"1.3 times the size of Washington, DC","Land boundaries":{"quantity":0,"unit":"km"},"Coastline":{"quantity":120,"unit":"km"},"Maritime claims":{"territorial sea":{"quantity":12,"unit":"nm"},"exclusive economic zone":{"quantity":200,"unit":"nm"},"continental shelf":"200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin"},"Terrain":"low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south","Elevation extremes":{"lowest point":"Pacific Ocean 0 m","highest point":"Te Manga 652 m"},"Land use":{"arable land":{"quantity":16.67,"unit":"%"},"permanent crops":{"quantity":8.33,"unit":"%"},"other":{"quantity":75,"unit":"%"}},"Irrigated land":"NA","Natural hazards":"typhoons (November to March)","internationalEnvironmentAgreements":{"partyTo":["Biodiversity","Climate Change","Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol","Desertification","Hazardous Wastes","Law of the Sea","Ozone Layer Protection"]},"naturalResources":["NEGL"],"environmentalIssues":["NA"],"climate":["tropical oceanic","moderated by trade winds","a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March"],"geographyNote":["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"]},"people":{"Population":11124,"Age structure":{"0-14 years":{"quantity":25.1,"unit":"%"},"15-64 years":{"quantity":65,"unit":"%"},"65 years and over":"9.9% (male 538/female 563) (2011 est.)"},"Median age":{"total":{"quantity":32,"unit":"years"},"male":{"quantity":31.3,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":32.7,"unit":"years"}},"Population growth rate":"-3.2% (2011 est.)","Birth rate":{"quantity":15.37,"unit":"births/1,000 population"},"Death rate":"7.37 deaths/1,000 population NA (July 2011 est.)","Urbanization":{"urban population":{"quantity":75,"unit":"% of total population"},"rate of urbanization":{"quantity":1.4,"unit":"% annual rate of change"}},"Sex ratio":{"at birth":{"quantity":1.048,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"under 15 years":{"quantity":1.13,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"15-64 years":{"quantity":1.07,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"65 years and over":{"quantity":0.96,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"total population":{"quantity":1.07,"unit":"male(s)/female"}},"Infant mortality rate":{"total":{"quantity":15.81,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"},"country comparison to the world":"","male":{"quantity":19.24,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"},"female":{"quantity":12.21,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"}},"Life expectancy at birth":{"total population":{"quantity":74.7,"unit":"years"},"country comparison to the world":"","male":{"quantity":71.91,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":77.62,"unit":"years"}},"Total fertility rate":{"quantity":2.39,"unit":"children born/woman"},"HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate":"NA","HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS":"NA","HIV/AIDS - deaths":"NA","Drinking water source":{},"Sanitation facility access":{},"Nationality":{"noun":"Cook Islander(s)","adjective":"Cook Islander"},"Literacy":{"definition":"age 15 and over can read and write","total population":{"quantity":95,"unit":"%"},"male":"NA","female":"NA"},"School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)":{"total":{"quantity":12,"unit":"years"},"male":{"quantity":12,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":13,"unit":"years"}},"Education expenditures":"NA","People - note":"2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017","ethnicGroups":["Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%","part Cook Island Maori 5.8%","other 6.5% (2001 census)"],"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"]},"government":{"Country name":{"conventional long form":"none","conventional short form":"Cook Islands","former":"Harvey Islands"},"Dependency status":"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","Government type":"self-governing parliamentary democracy","Capital":{"name":"Avarua","geographic coordinates":{"S":{"deg":21,"min":12},"W":{"deg":159,"min":46}},"time difference":"UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)"},"Independence":"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)","National holiday":"Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)","Legal system":"common law similar to New Zealand common law","International law organization participation":"has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction","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 Linda TE PUNI (since 3 June 2010)","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"},"Legislative branch":{"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)","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"},"Judicial branch":"High Court","Political parties and leaders":"Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]; Democratic Party or Demo [Dr. Terepai MAOATE]","Political pressure groups and leaders":{"Political pressure groups and leaders":"Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes)","other":"various groups lobbying for political change"},"Diplomatic representation in the US":"none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)","Diplomatic representation from the US":"none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)","Flag description":"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","National anthem":{"name":"\"Te Atua Mou E\" (To God Almighty)","lyrics/music":"Tepaeru Te RITO/Thomas DAVIS"},"internationalOrganizations":["ACP","ADB","AOSIS","FAO","ICAO","ICRM","IFAD","IFRCS","IMO","IMSO","IOC","ITUC","OPCW","PIF","Sparteca","SPC","UNESCO","UPU","WHO","WMO"],"administrativeDivisions":["none"]},"economy":{"Economy - overview":"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 made up 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.","GDP (purchasing power parity)":{"usd":183200000},"GDP (official exchange rate)":{"usd":183200000},"GDP - real growth rate":{"quantity":0.1,"unit":"%"},"GDP - per capita (PPP)":{"usd":null},"GDP - composition by sector":{"agriculture":{"quantity":15.1,"unit":"%"},"industry":{"quantity":9.6,"unit":"%"},"services":{"quantity":75.3,"unit":"%"}},"Labor force":6820,"Labor force - by occupation":{"agriculture":{"quantity":29,"unit":"%"},"industry":{"quantity":15,"unit":"%"},"services":{"quantity":56,"unit":"%"}},"Unemployment rate":{"quantity":13.1,"unit":"%"},"Population below poverty line":"NA%","Household income or consumption by percentage share":{"lowest 10%":"NA%","highest 10%":"NA%"},"Budget":{"revenues":{"usd":70950000},"expenditures":{"usd":69050000}},"Inflation rate (consumer prices)":{"quantity":2.1,"unit":"%"},"Industrial production growth rate":{"quantity":1,"unit":"%"},"Electricity - production":{"quantity":31000000,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - consumption":{"quantity":28830000,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - exports":{"quantity":0,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - imports":{"quantity":0,"unit":"kWh"},"Oil - production":{"quantity":0,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - consumption":{"quantity":1000,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - exports":{"quantity":0,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - imports":{"quantity":495,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - proved reserves":{"quantity":0,"unit":"bbl"},"Natural gas - production":{"quantity":0,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - consumption":{"quantity":0,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - exports":{"quantity":0,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - imports":{"quantity":0,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - proved reserves":{"quantity":0,"unit":"cu m"},"Current account balance":{"usd":26670000},"Exports":{"usd":5222000},"Imports":{"usd":81040000},"Debt - external":{"usd":141000000},"Exchange rates":"NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar -","industries":["fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts"],"agricultureProducts":["copra","citrus","pineapples","tomatoes","beans","pawpaws","bananas","yams","taro","coffee","pigs","poultry"],"exportCommodities":["copra","papayas","fresh and canned citrus fruit","coffee","fish","pearls and pearl shells","clothing"],"importCommodities":["foodstuffs","textiles","fuels","timber","capital goods"]},"communications":{"Telephones - main lines in use":6900,"Telephones - mobile cellular":7000,"Telephone system":{"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)"},"Broadcast media":"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)","Internet country code":".ck","Internet hosts":2521,"Internet users":6000},"transport":{"Airports":10,"Airports - with paved runways":{"total":1,"1,524 to 2,437 m":1},"Airports - with unpaved runways":{"total":9,"1,524 to 2,437 m":2,"914 to 1,523 m":5,"under 914 m":2},"Roadways":{"total":{"quantity":320,"unit":"km"},"country comparison to the world":"","paved":{"quantity":33,"unit":"km"},"unpaved":{"quantity":287,"unit":"km"}},"Merchant marine":{"total":34,"country comparison to the world":"","by type":"bulk carrier 1, cargo 27, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 5","foreign-owned":"23 (Egypt 1, Germany 1, Latvia 1, Lithuania 2, former Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 6, NZ 1, Russia 1, Sweden 3, Turkey 4, UK 2) (2010)"},"Ports and terminals":"Avatiu"},"military":{"Military branches":"no regular military forces; National Police Department (2009)","Manpower fit for military service":{"males age 16-49":2198,"females age 16-49":2156},"Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually":{"male":127,"female":107},"Military - note":"defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request"},"issues":{"internationalDisputes":["none"]}}