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
Cook Islands

Population:

12,271 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: (male 1,834/female 1,624)
15-64 years: (male 3,973/female 3,747)
65 years and over: (male 542/female 551)

Median age:

total: 29.8 years
male: 29 years
female: 30.4 years (2001 census)

Population growth rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

16.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

NA (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2001 census)

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

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)

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

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2005)

Education expenditures:

0.2% of GDP (2001)

People - note:

2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017

Government
Cook Islands

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: 21 12 S, 159 46 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

none