Statistics Cook Islands 
Cook Islands in the World
Cook Islands - Introduction 2023
top of pageBackground:
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 political 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. In September 2023, the US recognized the Cook Islands as a sovereign and independent state.
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. In September 2023, the US recognized the Cook Islands as a sovereign and independent state.
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
Land use
Agricultural land: 8.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 4.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 4.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Forest: 64.6% (2018 est.)
Other: 27% (2018 est.)
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
Cook Islands - People 2023
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga: 7,939 (2023 est.)
Note: the Cook Islands' Ministry of Finance & Economic Management estimated the resident population to have been 11,700 in September 2016
Growth rate: -2.31% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: NA
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%, Church of Jesus Christ 4.4%, other 8%, none 5.6%, no response 2.2% (2011 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 18.43% (male 766/female 697)
15-64 years: 66.23% (male 2,713/female 2,545)
65 years and over: 15.34% (2023 est.) (male 596/female 622)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 53.8
Youth dependency ratio: 36.4
Elderly dependency ratio: 17.4
Potential support ratio: 5.8 (2021)
Urbanization
Urban population: 76.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment
Current issues: limited land presents solid and liquid waste disposal problems; soil destruction and deforestation; environmental degradation due to indiscriminate 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: 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
International agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
Total: 15.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
NA
rural: NA
total: 99.1% of population
rural: NA
total: 99.1% of population
Unimproved urban:
NA
rural: NA
total: 0.9% of population (2020 est.)
rural: NA
total: 0.9% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 12.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 3.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 7.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 15 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 14 years (2012)
Cook Islands - Government 2023
top of pageCountry 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
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
Independence: 4 August 1965 (Cook Islands became self-governing state in free association with New Zealand)
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
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Sir Tom J. MARSTERS (since 9 August 2013); New Zealand High Commissioner Ms : 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)
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
Cook Islands - Economy 2023
top of pageEconomy overview: high-income self-governing New Zealand territorial economy; tourism-based activity but diversifying; severely curtailed by COVID-19 pandemic; copra and tropical fruit exporter; Asian Development Bank aid recipient
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$266 million (2022 est.)
$257 million (2021 est.)
$287 million (2020 est.)
$257 million (2021 est.)
$287 million (2020 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 dollars
Real gdp per capita:
$15,600 (2022 est.)
$15,100 (2021 est.)
$16,800 (2020 est.)
$15,100 (2021 est.)
$16,800 (2020 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 dollars
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 5.1% (2010 est.)
Industry: 12.7% (2010 est.)
Services: 82.1% (2010 est.)
Agriculture products: vegetables, coconuts, roots/tubers, cassava, papayas, tomatoes, pork, fruit, sweet potatoes, mangoes/guavas
Budget
Revenues: $86.9 million (2010)
Expenditures: $77.9 million (2010)
Surplus or deficit: 3% (of GDP) (2010 est.)
Exports:
$31.4 million (2021 est.)
$3.125 million (2011 est.)
$5.163 million (2010 est.)
$3.125 million (2011 est.)
$5.163 million (2010 est.)
Note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.
Partners: Japan 41%, France 18%, Thailand 16%, Greece 7%, China 6% (2021)
Commodities: fish products, recreational boats, paintings, lobsters, tuna (2021)
Imports:
$215 million (2021 est.)
$109.3 million (2011 est.)
$90.62 million (2010 est.)
$109.3 million (2011 est.)
$90.62 million (2010 est.)
Partners: New Zealand 57%, Turkey 12%, Italy 11%, Israel 5%, Fiji 4% (2021)
Commodities: motorboats, refined petroleum, integrated circuits, lumber, cars, edible preparations, flavored water, beer (2021)
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.)
1.4341 (2016 est.)
1.4341 (2015 est.)
1.441 (2014 est.)
1.4279 (2013 est.)
Cook Islands - Energy 2023
top of pageElectricity
Installed generating capacity: 18,000 kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 38.729 million kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 3 million kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 70% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 30% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 800 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 611 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 114,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 114,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Cook Islands - Communication 2023
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 7,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 17,000 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2021 est.)
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
Users total: 11,382 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 64.8% (2021 est.)
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 2,700 (2018 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2018 est.)
Cook Islands - Military 2023
top of pageCook Islands - Transportation 2023
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6
Airports: 11 (2021)
With paved runways: 1
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
With unpaved runways: 10
With unpaved runways note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Cook Islands - Transnational issues 2023
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