ions last held 6 March 1994 (next to be held NA
1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (25 total)
Cook Islands Party 20, Democratic Party 3, Democratic Alliance Party
2
note: the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters,
but has no legislative powers

Judicial branch: High Court

Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY;
Democratic Party, Sir Thomas DAVIS; Democratic Alliance Party,
Norman GEORGE

International organization participation: AsDB, ESCAP (associate),
ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, Sparteca, SPC,
SPF, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing in free
association with New Zealand)

US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing in free
association with New Zealand)

Flag: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for
every island) centered in the outer half of the flag

Economy
-------

Economic overview: Agriculture provides the economic base. The
major export earners are fruit, copra, and clothing. Manufacturing
activities are limited to a fruit-processing plant and several
clothing factories. Economic development is hindered by the
isolation of the islands from foreign markets and a lack of natural
resources and good transportation links. A large trade deficit is
annually made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign
aid, largely from New Zealand. Current economic development plans
call for exploiting the tourism potential and expanding the mining
and fishing industries. Despite these plans, the Cook Islands will
continue to face severe financial problems.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $57 million (1993 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $3,000 (1993 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.2% (1990)

Labor force: 5,810
by occupation: agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%,
industry 15%, other 4% (1981)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries: fruit processing, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 14,000 kW
production: 21 million kWh
consumption per capita: 741 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: copra, citrus, pi