: 19,561 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 1.11% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 22.87 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -6.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
all ages: NA male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.14 years
male: 69.2 years
female: 73.1 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.25 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander

Ethnic divisions: Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and
European 7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%,
other 0.9%

Religions: Christian (majority of populace members of Cook Islands
Christian Church)

Languages: English (official), Maori

Literacy: NA

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands

Data code: CW

Type of government: self-governing parliamentary government in
free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible
for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for
external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands

Capital: Avarua

Administrative divisions: none

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, 4 August

Constitution: 4 August 1965

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Apenera
SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Darryl DUNN (since
NA 1994), representative of New Zealand was appointed by the New
Zealand Government
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey A. HENRY (since 1
February 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1
February 1989)
cabinet: Cabinet; collectively responsible to Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament: elect