Country Profile: Cook Islands

Geography

Halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand.

Economy

Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.

Factbook: "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."

Estimated per capita GDP (2009 U.S. dollars)

2005: $9,100

Population

Living in an urban area: 74% (2008)

July 2009: 11,870. Growth rate: -3.302%

Health

Infant mortality (deaths before the age of one year per 1,000 live births)

2009: 16.9

Average life expectancy at birth

2009: 74.22 years (rates 91st)

SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/