2021 Edition

Background

Polynesians from Tahiti were probably the first people to settle Rarotonga around A.D. 900. Over time, Samoans and Tongans also settled in Rarotonga, and Rarotongans voyaged to the northern Cook Islands, settling Manihiki and Rakahanga. Pukapuka and Penrhyn in the northern Cook Islands were settled directly from Samoa. Prior to European contact, there was considerable travel and trade between inhabitants of the different islands and atolls but they were not united in a single entity. Spanish navigators were the first Europeans to spot the northern Cook Islands in 1595 followed by the first landing in 1606. The Cook Islands remained free of further European contact until the 1760s, and in 1773, British explorer James COOK saw Manuae in the southern Cook Islands. The islands were named after COOK in the 1820s by Russian mapmakers. English missionary activity during the 1820s and 1830s banned singing and dancing and converted most of the population.Fearing France would militarily occupy the islands like it did in Tahiti, Rarotongans asked the UK for protectorate status in the 1840s and 1860s, which the UK ignored. In 1888, Queen MAKEA TAKAU of Rarotonga formally petitioned for protectorate status, which the UK reluctantly agreed to. In 1901, the UK placed Rarotonga and the rest of the islands in the New Zealand Colony and in 1915, the Cook Islands Act organized the Cook Islands into one political entity. It remained a protectorate until 1965, when New Zealand granted the Cook Islands self-government status. The Cook Islands has a great deal of local autonomy and is an independent member of international organizations, but it is in free association with New Zealand, which is responsible for defense and foreign affairs. Economic opportunities in the Cook Islands are sparse, and more Cook Islanders live in New Zealand than in the Cook Islands.In a referendum in 1994, voters chose to keep the name Cook Islands rather than changing to a Maori name for the islands. The issue was revived in 2019, but after being poorly received by the diaspora in New Zealand, the government decided to retain the name Cook Islands but to provide a Maori name alongside it. The Maori name has not yet been determined.

Area

land

236 sq km

total

236 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March

Coastline

120 km

Elevation

highest point

Te Manga 652 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates

21 14 S, 159 46 W

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

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

8.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 4.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 4.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

64.6% (2018 est.)

other

27% (2018 est.)

Location

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

tropical cyclones (November to March)

Natural resources

coconuts (copra)

Population distribution

most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga

Terrain

low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south

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.)

Birth rate

12.85 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current Health Expenditure

2.9% (2018)

Death rate

8.89 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

NA

potential support ratio

NA

total dependency ratio

NA

youth dependency ratio

NA

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 100% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2019)

Ethnic groups

Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 81.3%, part Cook Island Maori 6.7%, other 11.9% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

11.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

20.54 deaths/1,000 live births

total

16.33 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official) 86.4%, Cook Islands Maori (Rarotongan) (official) 76.2%, other 8.3% (2011 est.)

note

note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.88 years (2021 est.)

male

74.05 years

total population

76.89 years

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases

malaria

Median age

female

38.7 years (2020 est.)

male

37.8 years

total

38.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Cook Islander

noun

Cook Islander(s)

Net migration rate

-28.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

55.9% (2016)

Physicians density

1.41 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

8,327 (July 2021 est.)

note

note: the Cook Islands' Ministry of Finance & Economic Management estimated the resident population to have been 11,700 in September 2016

Population distribution

most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga

Population growth rate

-2.46% (2021 est.)

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%, Church of Jesus Christ 4.4%, other 8%, none 5.6%, no response 2.2% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 97.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 2.4% of population (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2012)

male

15 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.06 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.09 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

75.7% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

none

Capital

etymology

translates as "two harbors" in Maori

geographic coordinates

21 12 S, 159 46 W

name

Avarua

time difference

UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

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

history

4 August 1965 (Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964)

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Cook Islands

etymology

named after Captain James COOK, the British explorer who visited the islands in 1773 and 1777

former

Hervey Islands

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet chosen by the prime minister

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)

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

head of government

Prime Minister Mark BROWN (since 1 October 2020)

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

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)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

Legal system

common law similar to New Zealand common law

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

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%

elections

last held on 14 June 2018 (next to be held by 2022)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Tepaeru Te RITO/Thomas DAVIS

name

"Te Atua Mou E" (To God Almighty)

note

note: adopted 1982; as prime minister, Sir Thomas DAVIS composed the anthem; his wife, a tribal chief, wrote the lyrics

National holiday

Constitution Day, the first Monday in August (1965)

National symbol(s)

a circle of 15, five-pointed, white stars on a blue field, Tiare maori (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors: green, white

Political parties and leaders

Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]Democratic Party or Demo [Tina BROWNE]One Cook Islands Movement [Teina BISHOP]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

vegetables, coconuts, roots/tubers nes, cassava, papayas, tomatoes, pork, fruit, sweet potatoes, mangoes/guavas

Budget

expenditures

77.9 million (2010)

revenues

86.9 million (2010)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

3% (of GDP) (2010 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2005

$26.67 million (2005)

Debt - external

Debt - external 1996

$141 million (1996 est.)

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.

Exchange rates

currency

NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

1.4279 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

1.441 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

1.4341 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

1.4341 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

1.416 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2010

$5.163 million (2010 est.)

Exports 2011

$3.125 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish products, recreational boats, precious metal scraps, fruit juice, chemical analysis instruments (2019)

Exports - partners

Japan 37%, Thailand 21%, France 17% (2019)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

5.1% (2010 est.)

industry

12.7% (2010 est.)

services

82.1% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$299.9 million (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2010

$90.62 million (2010 est.)

Imports 2011

$109.3 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, recreational boats, cars, flavored water (2019)

Imports - partners

New Zealand 41%, China 21%, Italy 12%, Fiji 10% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2002)

Industries

fishing, fruit processing, tourism, clothing, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2011

2.2% (2011 est.)

Labor force

6,820 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

29%

industry

15%

services

56% (1995)

Population below poverty line

NA

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015

$183.2 million (2015 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016

$299.9 million (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2005

0.1% (2005 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2005

$9,100 (2005 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2016

$16,700 (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

29% (of GDP) (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2005

13.1% (2005)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

31.62 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

79% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

21% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

14,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

34 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

600 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

611 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15.14 (2013)

total

2,700 (2013)

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

percent of population

54% (2019 est.)

total

9,487 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

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)

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)

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

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

37.56 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

6,576 (2017)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

83.05 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

14,539 (2017)

Airports

total

11 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2019)

total

1

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

7

total

10

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

E5

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 19, container ship 1, general cargo 57, oil tanker 54, other 63 (2021)

total

194

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

6

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Avatiu

Roadways

paved

207 km (2018)

total

295 km (2018)

unpaved

88 km (2018)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Cook Islands Police Service

Disputes - international

none

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions

12.03 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December 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

Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

8.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 4.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 4.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

64.6% (2018 est.)

other

27% (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne diseases

malaria

Total renewable water resources

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

75.7% of total population (2021)