21388
English (official) 86.4%, Cook Islands Maori (Rarotongan) (official) 76.2%, other 8.3%
- Conventional long form
- none
- Conventional short form
- Cook Islands
- Local long form
- Local short form
self-governing parliamentary democracy (Parliament of the Cook Islands) in free association with New Zealand
- Name
- Avarua
- Geographic coordinates
- 21 12 S, 159 46 W
- Time difference
- UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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 became overextended, 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.
- Inflation
- None%
- Total tax rate (% of commercial profits)
- None%
- Real Interest Rate
- None%
- Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP)
- None%
- Current Account Balance
- US$
- Labor Force, Total
- Employment in Agriculture
- %
- Employment in Industry
- %
- Employment in Services
- %
- Unemployment Rate
- %
- Imports of goods and services
- US$
- Exports of goods and services
- US$
- Total Merchandise Trade
- %
- FDI, net inflows
- US$
- Commercial Service Exports
- US$
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts
- Commodities
- copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
- Partners
- Commodities
- foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
- Partners