Cook Islands :: Australia-Oceania
Introduction
Background:
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.
Geography
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total:
236 sq km
land:
236 sq km
water:
0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 214
Area - comparative:
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
120 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12
nm
exclusive economic zone:
200
nm
continental shelf:
200
nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March
Terrain:
low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Elevation:
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Te Manga 652 m
Natural resources:
coconuts (copra)
Land use:
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.)
Irrigated land:
NA
Population distribution:
most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga
Natural hazards:
tropical cyclones (November to March)
Environment - current issues:
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
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
Geography - note:
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
People and Society
Population:
8,574
(July 2020 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: 223
Nationality:
noun:
Cook Islander(s)
adjective:
Cook Islander
Ethnic groups:
Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 81.3%, part Cook Island Maori 6.7%, other 11.9%
(2011 est.)
Languages:
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
Religions:
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.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
19.93%
(male 901/female 808)
15-24 years:
14.89%
(male 684/female 593)
25-54 years:
37.66%
(male 1,595/female 1,634)
55-64 years:
14.15%
(male 674/female 539)
65 years and over:
13.37%
(male 555/female 591)
(2020 est.)
Median age:
total:
38.3 years
male:
37.8 years
female:
38.7 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Population growth rate:
-2.59%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 235
Birth rate:
13.3 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Death rate:
9 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Net migration rate:
-29.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 226
Population distribution:
most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga
Urbanization:
urban population:
75.5% of total population
(2020)
rate of urbanization:
0.37% annual rate of change
(2015-20 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.12 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
1.15 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
1.25 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.94 male(s)/female
total population:
1.06 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total:
11.9 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
14.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
9.2 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
76.6 years
male:
73.8 years
female:
79.6 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Total fertility rate:
2.12 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Drinking water source:
improved:
total:
100% of population
unimproved:
total:
0% of population
(2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure:
3.3%
(2017)
Physicians density:
1.41 physicians/1,000 population
(2014)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
total:
97.6% of population
unimproved:
total:
2.4% of population
(2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk:
high
(2020)
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases:
malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
55.9%
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 2
Education expenditures:
4.7% of GDP
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 69
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:
1,516 years
male:
15 years
female:
14 years
(2012)
Government
Country name:
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
Dependency status:
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
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
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
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
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)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, the first Monday in August (1965)
Constitution:
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
Legal system:
common law similar to New Zealand common law
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Sir Tom J. MARSTERS (since 9 August 2013); New Zealand Acting High Commissioner Ms Rachel BENNETT (since 9 December 2019)
head of government:
Prime Minister Mark BROWN (since 1 October 2020)
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
Legislative branch:
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%
Judicial branch:
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
Political parties and leaders:
Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA] ++ Democratic Party or Demo [Tina BROWNE] ++ One Cook Islands Movement [Teina BISHOP]
International organization participation:
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, 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
National symbol(s):
a circle of 15, five-pointed, white stars on a blue field, Tiare maori (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors: green, white
National anthem:
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
Economy
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 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.
GDP real growth rate:
0.1%
(2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2%
(2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$299.9 million
(2016 est.)
$183.2 million
(2015 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$299.9 million
(2016 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$16,700
(2016 est.)
$9,100
(2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:
5.1%
(2010 est.)
industry:
12.7%
(2010 est.)
services:
82.1%
(2010 est.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
Agriculture - products:
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
Industries:
fishing, fruit processing, tourism, clothing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
1%
(2002)
country comparison to the world: 155
Labor force:
6,820
(2001)
country comparison to the world: 217
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:
29%
industry:
15%
services:
56%
(1995)
Unemployment rate:
13.1%
(2005)
country comparison to the world: 169
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:
NA
highest 10%:
NA
Budget:
revenues:
86.9 million
(2010)
expenditures:
77.9 million
(2010)
Taxes and other revenues:
29% (of GDP)
(2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
3% (of GDP)
(2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Current account balance:
$26.67 million
(2005)
country comparison to the world: 58
Exports:
$3.125 million
(2011 est.)
$5.163 million
(2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
Exports - commodities:
fish; copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Imports:
$109.3 million
(2011 est.)
$90.62 million
(2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Debt - external:
$141 million
(1996 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Exchange rates:
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.)
Energy
Electricity - production:
34 million kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Electricity - consumption:
31.62 million kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
14,000 kW
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
79% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
21% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
600 bbl/day
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Refined petroleum products - imports:
611 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m
(1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
88,810 Mt
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
3,305
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
37.56
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
7,308
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
83.05
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Telecommunication systems:
general assessment:
demand for mobile broadband is increasing due to mobile services being the primary and most wide-spread source for Internet access across the region; 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
(2020)
domestic:
service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable; 38 per 100 fixed-line, 83 per 100 mobile-cellular
(2019)
international:
country code - 682; the 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)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
Broadcast media:
1 privately owned TV station broadcasts from Rarotonga providing a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs
(2019)
Internet country code:
.ck
Internet users:
total:
4,881
percent of population:
54%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Transportation
National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers:
1
(2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:
6
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
E5
(2016)
Airports:
11
(2013)
country comparison to the world: 153
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
1
(2019)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
10
(2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
2
(2013)
914 to 1,523 m:
7
(2013)
under 914 m:
1
(2013)
Roadways:
total:
295 km
(2018)
paved:
207 km
(2018)
unpaved:
88 km
(2018)
country comparison to the world: 202
Merchant marine:
total:
205
by type:
bulk carrier 21, container ship 3, general cargo 85, oil tanker 33, other 63
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 65
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s):
Avatiu
Military and Security
Military and security forces:
no regular military forces; Cook Islands Police Service.
(2018)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
none
