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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.
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Common Name: Cook Islands
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Local Official Name: Cook Islands
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Abbreviated Name: Cook Islands
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Official Name: Cook Islands
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Official Script Name: Cook Islands
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Local Common Name: Cook Islands
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Former Name: Harvey Islands
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Territory of: NA
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Head of State: Queen ELIZABETH II
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Government Type: self-governing parliamentary democracy
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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)
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Constitution: 1965 August 4
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National Holiday: Constitution Day, first Monday in August
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International Organization Participation: ACP, AsDB, FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
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Administrative Divisions: NA
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Dependent Areas: 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
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Legal System: based on New Zealand law and English common law
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Suffrage: NA years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since 6 September 2005), representative of New Zealand
head of government: Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Terepai MAOATE (since 9 August 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is 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:
bicameral Parliament consisting of a lower house or Legislative Assembly with 25 seats (24 seats representing districts of the Cook Islands and one seat representing Cook Islanders living overseas; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and an upper house or House of Ariki made up of traditional leaders
elections: last held 26 September 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - Demo 51.9%, CIP 45.5%, independent 2.7%; seats by party - Demo 15, CIP 7, independent 1; note - one seat tied, resolution pending by-election
note: the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers
Jidicial Branch:
High Court
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Party Leaders: Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]; Democratic Party or Demo [Dr. Terepai MAOATE]
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International Disputes: NA
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Illicit Drugs: NA
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Location of Cook Islands: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
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Continent: Australia
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Land Area Total: 236 sq km
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Region: South Pacific Oceania |
Land Area Land: 236 sq km
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Capitol City: Avarua
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Land Area Water: 0 sq km
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Current: -10
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Latitude: 021 14 S
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Border Boundary Land: 0 km
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Longitude: 159 46 W
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Border Boundary Coastline: 120 km
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Arable Land: 16.67 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 8.33 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 652 m
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Location: Te Manga
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Lowest Elevation: 0 m
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Location: Pacific Ocean
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Largest City in Cook Islands: NA
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NA Largest City Population: 0
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Threatened Species: 0
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Environmental Issues: NA
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Environmental Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Irrigated Land: 0
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Bordering Countries: NA
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Natural Resources: NEGL
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Geographical Terrain: low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
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Comparative Area of Cook Islands: 1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
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Cook Islands's Geography: 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
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Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Cook Islands.
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General Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
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Natural Hazards: typhoons (November to March)
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Economic 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 about 70% of the working population, provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Black pearls are the Cook Island's 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.
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GDP: $183,200,000 USD
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Currency: New Zealand dollar
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GDP per Capita: $9,100 USD
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Currency Code: NZD
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GDP Growth Rate: 0.10 %
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One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% NZD
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Currency Exchange Rate History: New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001)
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GDP of Agriculture: 15.10 %
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GDP of Industry: 9.60 %
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GDP of Services: 75.30 % |
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Inflation Rate: 2.10 % |
Population in Poverty: 0.00 %
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Unemployment Rate: 13.10 %
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Tourism: 0.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $70,950,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $69,050,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 28,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 34,460,000 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 100.00%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Oil Production: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
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Oil Exports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
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Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 0 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m
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External Debt: $141,000,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $13,100,000 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
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Agricultural Products: copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
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Primary Industries: fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts
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Industrial Growth Rate: 1.00 %
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Import Amount in USD: $81,040,000 USD - foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
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Import Partners: New Zealand 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2%
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Export Amount in USD: $5,222,000 USD - copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
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Export Partners: Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8%
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GINI Index: 0.00%
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Labor Force Number of People: 6,820
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Labor Force by Occupations: agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56%
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 2 |
Number of People with Radios: 14,000 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 1 |
Number of People with Televisions: 4,000 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 6,200 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 1,500 |
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Internet Service Providers: 1,456 |
Internet Users: 3,600 |
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Internet Country Code: .ck |
Newspapers: 0 |
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Two Letter Country Code: CW |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: 682 |
Electricity Voltage: 240 Volts |
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Telephone Systems: general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex
domestic: the 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)
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Highways: 33 km |
Railways: 0 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 0 km |
Waterways: 0 km
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Airports: 2 |
Heliports: 0
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Motor Vehicles: 0 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 0 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 0.00 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines: total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 48,422 GRT/51,900 DWT
by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3
foreign-owned: 5 (Norway 1, NZ 1, Sweden 3)
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Ports and Harbors: Avatiu
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Population: 21,388 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 21.00 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 0.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 0.00 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: -1.20% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 0.00 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 2,718 |
Population Female 0-14: 2,388 |
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Population Male 15-64: 4,531 |
Population Female 15-64: 4,395 |
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Population Male 65+: 489 |
Population Female 65+: 469 |
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Population 0-14: 34.10% |
Literacy Rate: 95.00% |
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Population 15-64: 59.50% |
Literacy rate of Males: 0.00% |
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Population 65+: 6.40% |
Literacy rate of Females: 0.00% |
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Population that is Male: 53.50
% |
Population that is Female: 46.50% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 0.00 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 3.10 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 0.00 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 0.00 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.00%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 0
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: 0.00
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Nationality: COOK ISLANDER
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Ethnic Groups: Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%, other 6.5%
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Primary Language: English
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Other Languages: English (official), Maori
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Primary Religion: Christian
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Other 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%
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Branches: no regular military forces; Ministry of Police and Disaster Management
Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
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Manpower Fit to Serve: NA years
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Manpower Available: 0 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 0 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 0 People per year
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Expenditures: $0 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 0.00
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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Cook Islands Spa and Resort Directory
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Cook Islands Home Exchanges and Home Swaps
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Cook Islands Vacation Rentals And Holiday Villas
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Cook Islands City Information Game Earn Real Money
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