but has no legislative powers

Judicial branch: High Court

Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party [Sir Geoffrey

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

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

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

Flag description: 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

Economy--overview: Like many other South Pacific island nations,
the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation
of the country from foreign markets, lack of natural resources,
periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate
infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base with major
exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing activities
are limited to fruit-processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade
deficits are made up for by remittances from emigrants and by
foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In 1996, the
government declared bankruptcy, citing a $120 million public debt.
Efforts to exploit tourism potential and expanding the mining and
fishing industries have not been enough to adequately deal with the
financial crisis. In an effort to stem further erosion of the
economy, the government slashed public service salaries by 50%,
condensed the number of government ministries from 52 to 22, reduced
the number of civil servants by more than half, began selling
government assets, and closed all overseas diplomatic posts except
for the one in New Zealand.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$79 million (1994 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: NA%

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,000 (1994 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 6%
services: 77% (FY90/91)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 6,601 (1993)

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

Unemploy