world
factbook
Cook Islands
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
21.14° S, 159. 46° W
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

area

236 sq km
land
236 sq km
water
0 sq km

land boundaries

0 km

coastline

120 km

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
highest point
Te Manga
652

natural resources

  • coconuts
  • copra

land use

arable land
4.2 %
permanent crops
4.2 %
permanent pasture
0 %
forest
64.6 %
other
27 %

population distribution

most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga

people

population

  • 8,574
  • 224
    global rank

nationality

  • Cook Islander(s)
    noun
  • Cook Islander
    adjective

ethnic groups

Cook Island Maori
81.3 %
part Cook Island Maori
6.7 %
other
11.9 %

languages

  • English
    official
  • Cook Islands Maori
    Rarotongan; official
  • other

religions

Protestant
62.8 %
Roman Catholic
17 %
Mormon
4.4 %
other
8 %
none
5.6 %
no response
2.2 %

birth rate

  • 13.3
    per 1,000 population
  • 140
    global rank

death rate

  • 9
    per 1,000 population
  • 61
    global rank

urban population

75.5 %

life expectancy

  • 76.6
    total population
  • 93
    global rank
73.8
male
79.6
female

adult obesity rate

  • 55.9%
    percent of adults
  • 2
    global rank

government

government type

parliamentary democracy

capital

Avarua
21.12 S, 159.46 W

independence

national holidays

  • Constitution Day
    the first Monday in August

legal system

common law similar to New Zealand common law

age of suffrage

18

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 colors

  • green
  • white

national anthem

"Te Atua Mou E" (To God Almighty)

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.

GDP

299,900,000 USD
2016

agriculture products

  • copra
  • citrus
  • pineapples
  • tomatoes
  • beans
  • pawpaws
  • bananas
  • yams
  • taro
  • coffee
  • pigs
  • poultry

budget

  • 86,900,000
    revenue (USD)
  • 77,900,000
    expenditures (USD)

communications

telephones

    fixed lines

  • 7,800
    total subscriptions
  • 198
    global rank

    mobile cellular

  • 11,000
    total subscriptions
  • 213
    global rank

broadcast media

1 privately owned TV station broadcasts from Rarotonga providing a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs (2019)

internet

.ck
country code

    users

  • 4,881
    total
  • 54
    % of population
  • 217
    global rank

energy

This entry doesn't have any available energy data.

transportation

air transport

    airports

  • 11
    total
  • 1
    paved

roadways

295 km
total length

military

This entry doesn't have any available military data.