Introduction :: COOK ISLANDS
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Named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965, residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand, government deficits, and limited natural resources are of continuing concern.
Geography :: COOK ISLANDS
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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: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm 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
mean elevation: NA
elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m
coconuts (copra)
agricultural land: 8.4%
arable land 4.2%; permanent crops 4.2%; permanent pasture 0%
forest: 64.6%
other: 27% (2011 est.)
NA
typhoons (November to March)
NA
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
People and Society :: COOK ISLANDS
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9,556 (July 2016 est.)
note: the Cook Islands' Ministry of Finance & Economic Management estimated the resident population to have been 12,000 in December 2015
country comparison to the world: 225
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%
note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2011 est.)
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: 21.61% (male 1,093/female 972)
15-24 years: 17.2% (male 877/female 767)
25-54 years: 38.08% (male 1,822/female 1,817)
55-64 years: 11.34% (male 584/female 500)
65 years and over: 11.76% (male 554/female 570) (2016 est.)
population pyramid:
Australia-Oceania
::COOK ISLANDS
Population Pyramid
A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
total: 35.9 years
male: 35.3 years
female: 36.4 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
-2.88% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 235
14.1 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
8.3 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
urban population: 74.5% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 0.88% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
total: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
total population: 75.8 years
male: 73 years
female: 78.8 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
2.21 children born/woman (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
3.4% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 175
1.33 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
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.)
improved:
urban: 97.6% of population
rural: 97.6% of population
total: 97.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2.4% of population
rural: 2.4% of population
total: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)
NA
NA
NA
50% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 3
4% of GDP (2015)
country comparison to the world: 137
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 17 years (2014)
Government :: COOK ISLANDS
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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
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
self-governing parliamentary democracy (Parliament of the Cook Islands) in free association with New Zealand
name: Avarua
geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
none
none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)
Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
4 August 1965 (Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964); amended many times, last in 2004 (2016)
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 Joanna KEMPKERS (since 19 July 2013)
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 9 July 2014 (next to be held by 2018)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CIP 13, Demo 8, One Cook Islands Movement 2, 1 undecided
highest resident court(s): 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 [William HEATHER]
One Cook Islands Movement [Teina BISHOP]
Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes)
other: various groups lobbying for political change
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; national colors: blue, 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
Economy :: COOK ISLANDS
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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 lived beyond its means, 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.
$244.1 million (2010 est.)
$183.2 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
$244.1 million (2010 est.)
0.1% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
$12,300 (2010 est.)
$9,100 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 12.7%
services: 82.1% (2010 est.)
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts
1% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 147
6,820 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 218
agriculture: 29%
industry: 15%
services: 56% (1995)
13.1% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 144
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $86.9 million
expenditures: $77.9 million (2010)
35.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
3.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
1 April - 31 March
2.2% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
$38.99 million (31 December 2011 est.)
$38.99 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
$148.2 million (31 December 2011 est.)
$170.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
$26.67 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 51
$3.125 million (2011 est.)
$5.163 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
$109.3 million (2011 est.)
$90.62 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
$141 million (1996 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
1.4279 (2015 est.)
1.441 (2014 est.)
1.4279 (2013 est.)
1.2187 (2013 est.)
1.23 (2012 est.)
Economy :: COOK ISLANDS
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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 lived beyond its means, 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.
$244.1 million (2010 est.)
$183.2 million (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
$244.1 million (2010 est.)
0.1% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
$12,300 (2010 est.)
$9,100 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 12.7%
services: 82.1% (2010 est.)
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts
1% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 147
6,820 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 218
agriculture: 29%
industry: 15%
services: 56% (1995)
13.1% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 144
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $86.9 million
expenditures: $77.9 million (2010)
35.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
3.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
1 April - 31 March
2.2% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
$38.99 million (31 December 2011 est.)
$38.99 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
$148.2 million (31 December 2011 est.)
$170.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
$26.67 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 51
$3.125 million (2011 est.)
$5.163 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 220
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
$109.3 million (2011 est.)
$90.62 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
$141 million (1996 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
1.4279 (2015 est.)
1.441 (2014 est.)
1.4279 (2013 est.)
1.2187 (2013 est.)
1.23 (2012 est.)
Energy :: COOK ISLANDS
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34 million kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
31.62 million kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
9,000 kW (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
99.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
0.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
country comparison to the world: 196
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
530 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
528.2 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
country comparison to the world: 190
200,000 Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Communications :: COOK ISLANDS
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total: 7,200
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 61 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 202
total: 7,800
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 66 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex
domestic: individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable
international: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
1 privately owned TV station broadcasts from Rarotonga providing a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs; a satellite program package is available; 6 radio stations broadcast with 1 reportedly reaching all of the islands (2009)
.ck
total: 6,000
percent of population: 61% (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Transportation :: COOK ISLANDS
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number of registered air carriers: 1
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 (2015)
E5 (2016)
11 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 153
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
total: 320 km
paved: 33 km
unpaved: 287 km (2003)
country comparison to the world: 204
total: 35
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 25, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 23 (Estonia 1, Germany 1, Lithuania 1, Norway 8, NZ 2, Russia 1, Sweden 3, Turkey 4, UK 2) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 81
major seaport(s): Avatiu
Military and Security :: COOK ISLANDS
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no regular military forces; National Police Department
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
Transnational Issues :: COOK ISLANDS
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none
