Background: Named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in the 1770s, 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.

Geographic coordinates: 21 14 S, 159 46 W

Map reference: Oceania

Area
Total: 236 km²
Land: 236 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 215
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: 0 m
Note: lowest point: Pacific Ocean

Natural resources: coconuts (copra)

Land use
Agricultural land: 8.4% (2011 est.)
Forest: 64.6% (2011 est.)
Other: 27% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land
Note: NA

Natural hazards: tropical cyclones (November to March)

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 km²

Population
Distribution: most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga: note: the Cook Islands' Ministry of Finance & Economic Management estimated the resident population to have been 11,700 in September 2016
Note: (July 2017 est.) (July 2018 est.)
Rank: 224
Growth rate: -2.72% (2018 est.)
Growth rate rank: 233
Below poverty line note: NA

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:

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: 20.68% (male 987 /female 882)
15-24 years: 15.99% (male 774 /female 671)
25-54 years: 38.06% (male 1710 /female 1730)
55-64 years: 12.72% (male 627 /female 523)
65 years and over: 12.55% (male 558 /female 576) (2018 est.)

Median age
Total: 37.2 years
Male: 36.7 years
Female: 37.6 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 67

Population growth rate: -2.72% (2018 est.)
Rank: 233

Birth rate: 13.7 births/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 138

Death rate: 8.6 deaths/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 75

Population distribution: most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga

Urbanization
Urban population: 75.1% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 0.37% annual rate of change

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
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
15-24 years: 1.14 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
55-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 12.6 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Male: 15.3 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Female: 9.8 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Rank: 107

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.2 years (2018 est.)
Male: 73.4 years (2018 est.)
Female: 79.2 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 91

Total fertility rate: 2.16 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Rank: 97

Drinking water source
Urban: 0.1% of population
Rural: 0.1% of population
Total: 0.1% of population (2015 est.)

Physicians density: 1.19 physicians/1000 population (2009)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)
Rural: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)
Total: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate note: NA
People living with hivaids note: NA
Deaths note: NA

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 55.9% (2016)
Rank: 2

Education expenditures: 4.7% of GDP (2016)
Rank: 86

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 15 years (2015)
Male: 15 years (2015)
Female: 16 years (2015)

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

Government type: self-governing parliamentary democracy (Parliament of the Cook Islands) in free association with New Zealand

Capital
Name: Avarua
Geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W
Time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: 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)

National holiday: Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)

Constitution
History: 4 August 1965 (Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964) (2017)
Amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Parliament membership in each of several readings and assent to by 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 (2017)

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 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
Electionsappointments: 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 Queens 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 Queens Representative on the advice of the Executive Council tendered by the prime minister; other judges appointed by the Queens 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)
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 symbols: 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)
Lyricsmusic: 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 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 216

Real gdp growth rate: 0.1% (2005 est.)
Rank: 195

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 106

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 5.1% (2010 est.)
Industry: 12.7% (2010 est.)
Services: 82.1% (2010 est.)

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)
Rank: 155

Labor force: 6,820 (2001)
Rank: 218
By occupation agriculture: 29%
By occupation industry: 15%
By occupation services: 56% (1995)

Unemployment rate: 13.1% (2005)
Rank: 167

Population below poverty line
Note: NA

Budget
Revenues: 86.9 million (2010)
Expenditures: 77.9 million (2010)
Surplus or deficit: 3% (of GDP) (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 13

Taxes and other revenues: 29% (of GDP) (2010 est.)
Rank: 86

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.2% (2011 est.)
Rank: 114

Stock of narrow money: $38.99 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 191

Stock of broad money:
Rank: 190

Current account balance: $26.67 million (2005)
Rank: 59

Exports:
Rank: 219
Commodities: fish; copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; pearls and pearl shells; clothing

Imports:
Rank: 213
Commodities: foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

Debt external: $141 million (1996 est.)
Rank: 191

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 34 million kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 209
Consumption: 31.62 million kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 209
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 123
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 137
Installed generating capacity: 14,000 kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 207
Generation sources fossil fuels: 79% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 85
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 71
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 165
Generation sources other renewable sources: 21% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 36

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 122
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 108
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 114
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 119

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products production rank: 133
Products consumption: 600 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 209
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 146
Products imports: 611 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 205

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 119
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 135
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 87
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 110
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 124

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 88,810 Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 207

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 7,800 (July 2016 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 75 (July 2016 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 199
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 11,000 (July 2016 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (July 2016 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 211

Telephone system
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 (2017)
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 (2017)
International: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); the topography of the South Pacific region has made internet connectivity a serious issue for many of the remote islands; submarine fibre-optic networks are expensive to build and maintain, with capital costs prohibitive for the smaller island communities; some countries have to rely solely on geostationary satellites; as a result, bandwidth is limited and broadband prices are expensive (2017)

Broadcast media: 1 privately owned TV station broadcasts from Rarotonga providing a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs (2016)

Internet
Country code: .ck
Users total: 5,160 (July 2016 est.)
Users percent of population: 54% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 213

National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: E5 (2016)

Airports: 11 (2013)
Rank: 154
With paved runways total: 1 (2017)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 10 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Roadways
Total: 320 km (2003)
Paved: 33 km (2003)
Unpaved: 287 km (2003)
Rank: 205

Merchant marine
Total: 218 (2017)
By type: bulk carrier 27, container ship 5, general cargo 102, oil tanker 17, other 67 (2017)
Rank: 63

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Avatiu

Disputes international: none