The Cook Islands, named after Captain James Cook who landed in 1773, became a British protectorate in 1888 and was later annexed by proclamation in 1900. The Cook Islands was first included within the boundaries of New Zealand in 1901, and in 1965, residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The Cook Islands’ economy relies on tourism, fisheries, and foreign aid. More recently a growing offshore financial sector exposed the country to vulnerabilities which the government has addressed with legislation and regulations for the oversight of all banks and financial institutions, and with enforcement measures. The Cook Islands continues to face challenges with the emigration of skilled workers, government deficits, inadequate infrastructure, and natural resource depletion. The Cook Islands is expected to graduate to the high-income threshold set by the World Bank, which will limit the country’s access to Official Development Assistance under OECD guidelines.
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
21 14 S, 159 46 W
Oceania
total: 236 sq km
land: 236 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 215
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
120 km
territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
continental shelf: 200nm or to the edge of the continental margin
tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March
low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m
coconuts (copra)
agricultural land: 8.4% (2011 est.)
arable land: 4.2% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 4.2% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
forest: 64.6% (2011 est.)
other: 27% (2011 est.)
NA
most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga
tropical cyclones (November to March)
limited land presents solid and liquid waste disposal problems; soil destruction and deforestation; environmental degradation due to indiscriminant use of pesticides; improper disposal of pollutants; overfishing and destructive fishing practices; over dredging of lagoons and coral rubble beds; unregulated building
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
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
9,038 (July 2018 est.)
note: the Cook Islands' Ministry of Finance & Economic Management estimated the resident population to have been 11,700 in September 2016
country comparison to the world: 224
noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander
Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 81.3%, part Cook Island Maori 6.7%, other 11.9% (2011 est.)
English (official) 86.4%, Cook Islands Maori (Rarotongan) (official) 76.2%, other 8.3% (2011 est.)
note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census
Protestant 62.8% (Cook Islands Christian Church 49.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 7.9%, Assemblies of God 3.7%, Apostolic Church 2.1%), Roman Catholic 17%, Mormon 4.4%, other 8%, none 5.6%, no response 2.2% (2011 est.)
0-14 years: 20.68%(male 987 /female 882)
15-24 years: 15.99%(male 774 /female 671)
25-54 years: 38.06%(male 1,710 /female 1,730)
55-64 years: 12.72%(male 627 /female 523)
65 years and over: 12.55%(male 558 /female 576) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:
total: 37.2 years (2018 est.)
male: 36.7 years
female: 37.6 years
country comparison to the world: 67
-2.72% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 233
13.7 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
-32.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 227
most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga
urban population: 75.3% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 0.37% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.2 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2018 est.)
total: 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 15.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 107
total population: 76.2 years (2018 est.)
male: 73.4 years
female: 79.2 years
country comparison to the world: 91
2.16 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
improved: urban: 99.9% of population
rural: 99.9% of population
total: 99.9% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population
rural: 0.1% of population
total: 0.1% of population (2015 est.)
2.7% (2015)
1.42 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
improved: urban: 97.6% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 97.6% of population (2015 est.)
total: 97.6% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)
total: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)
NA
NA
NA
55.9% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 2
4.7% of GDP (2016)
country comparison to the world: 77
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2015)
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands
former: Hervey Islands
etymology: named after Captain James COOK, the British explorer who visited the islands in 1773 and 1777
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
parliamentary democracy
name: Avarua
geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: translates as "two harbors" in Maori
none
none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 with the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)
Constitution Day, the first Monday in August (1965)
history: 4 August 1965 (Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964)
amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Parliament membership in each of several readings and assent of the chief of state’s representative; passage of amendments relating to the chief of state also requires two-thirds majority approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2004 (2019)
common law similar to New Zealand common law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Tom J. MARSTERS (since 9 August 2013); New Zealand High Commissioner Peter MARSHALL (since 10 January 2017)
head of government: Prime Minister Henry PUNA (since 30 November 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; UK representative appointed by the monarch; New Zealand high commissioner appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes prime minister
description: unicameral Parliament, formerly the Legislative Assembly (24 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the House of Ariki, a 24-member parliamentary body of traditional leaders appointed by the Queen's representative serves as a consultative body to the Parliament
elections: last held on 14 June 2018 (next to be held by 2022)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Demo 11, CIP 10, One Cook Islands Movement 1, independent 2; composition - men 15, women 9, percent of women 37.5%
highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and 3 judges of the High Court); High Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 4 judges and organized into civil, criminal, and land divisions); note - appeals beyond the Cook Islands Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
judge selection and term of office: High Court chief justice appointed by the Queen's Representative on the advice of the Executive Council tendered by the prime minister; other judges appointed by the Queen's Representative, on the advice of the Executive Council tendered by the chief justice, High Court chief justice, and the minister of justice; chief justice and judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: justices of the peace
Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]
Democratic Party or Demo [Tina BROWNE]
One Cook Islands Movement [Teina BISHOP]
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
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
a circle of 15, five-pointed, white stars on a blue field, Tiare maori (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors: green, white
name: "Te Atua Mou E" (To God Almighty)
lyrics/music: Tepaeru Te RITO/Thomas DAVIS
note: adopted 1982; as prime minister, Sir Thomas DAVIS composed the anthem; his wife, a tribal chief, wrote the lyrics
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 of copra and citrus fruit. Black pearls are the Cook Islands' 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 became overextended, 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. The government is targeting fisheries and seabed mining as sectors for future economic growth.
$299.9 million (2016 est.)
$183.2 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
$299.9 million(2016 est.) (2016 est.)
0.1% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
$16,700 (2016 est.)
$9,100 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
agriculture: 5.1% (2010 est.)
industry: 12.7% (2010 est.)
services: 82.1% (2010 est.)
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
fishing, fruit processing, tourism, clothing, handicrafts
1% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 155
6,820 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 218
agriculture: 29%
industry: 15%
services: 56% (1995)
13.1% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 167
NA
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
revenues: 86.9 million (2010)
expenditures: 77.9 million (2010)
29% (of GDP) (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
3% (of GDP) (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
1 April - 31 March
2.2% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$38.99 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
$148.2 million (31 December 2011 est.)
$170.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
$26.67 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 59
$3.125 million (2011 est.)
$5.163 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
fish; copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
$109.3 million (2011 est.)
$90.62 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
$141 million (1996 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
1.416 (2017 est.)
1.4341 (2016 est.)
1.4341 (2015 est.)
1.441 (2014 est.)
1.4279 (2013 est.)
34 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
31.62 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
14,000 kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
79% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
21% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
600 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
611 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
88,810 Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
total subscriptions: 7,800
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 75 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
total subscriptions: 11,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, and fax; individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone (2018)
domestic: service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable; 75 per 100 fixed-line, 105 per 100 mobile-cellular (2018)
international: country code - 682; Manatua submarine cable to surrounding islands of Niue, Samoa, French Polynesia and other Cook Islands, the topography of the South Pacific region has made Internet connectivity a serious issue for many of the remote islands; submarine fiber-optic networks are expensive to build and maintain; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)
1 privately owned TV station broadcasts from Rarotonga providing a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs (2019)
.ck
total: 5,160
percent of population: 54% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
no regular military forces; Cook Islands Police Service. (2018)
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 (2015)
E5 (2016)
11 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 154
total: 1 (2019)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
total: 10 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013)
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
total: 295 km (2018)
paved: 207 km (2018)
unpaved: 88 km (2018)
country comparison to the world: 196
total: 215
by type: bulk carrier 23, container ship 5, general cargo 91, oil tanker 25, other 71 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 63
major seaport(s): Avatiu
none