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Australia and Oceania
Page last updated: June 13, 2024
Polynesians from Tahiti were probably the first people to settle Rarotonga -- the largest of the Cook Islands -- 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, but no further European contact occurred until the 1760s. In 1773, British explorer James COOK spotted Manuae in the southern Cook Islands, and Russian mapmakers named the islands after COOK in the 1820s.
Fearing France would militarily occupy the islands as it did in Tahiti, Rarotongans asked the UK for protectorate status in the 1840s and 1860s, a request the UK ignored. In 1888, Queen MAKEA TAKAU of Rarotonga formally petitioned for protectorate status, to which the UK reluctantly agreed. 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 islands into one political entity. It remained a protectorate until 1965, when New Zealand granted the Cook Islands self-governing 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 its defense and foreign affairs. In September 2023, the US recognized the Cook Islands as a sovereign and independent state.
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 km²
Land: 236 km²
Water: 0 km²
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Total: 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
Highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Coconuts (copra)
Agricultural land: 8.4% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 4.2% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 4.2% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Forest: 64.6% (2018 est.)
Other: 27% (2018 est.)
NA
Most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga
Tropical cyclones (November to March)
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
Total: 7,761
Male: 3,980
Female: 3,781 (2024 est.)
Comparison rankings: female 224; male 223; total 224
Noun: Cook Islander(s)
Adjective: Cook Islander
Cook Island Maori 77.4%, part Cook Island Maori 8.3%, Fijian 3.6%, New Zealand Maori/European 3.4%, Filipino 2.9%, other Pacific Islands 1.8%, other 2.6% (2021 est.)
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
Protestant 55% (Cook Islands Christian Church 43.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.3%, Assemblies of God 3.6%), Roman Catholic 16.7%, Church of Jesus Christ 3.9%, Jehovah's Witness 2.2%, Apostolic Church 2.1%, other 4.5%, none/unspecified 15.6% (2021 est.)
0-14 years: 18.2% (male 738/female 671)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 2,634/female 2,479)
65 years and over: 16% (2024 est.) (male 608/female 631)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 53.8
Youth dependency ratio: 36.4
Elderly dependency ratio: 17.4
Potential support ratio: 5.8 (2021)
Total: 41.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 40.7 years
Female: 41.4 years
-2.24% (2024 est.)
12.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
-25.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga
Urban population: 76.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Total: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 19 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 77.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 74.8 years
Female: 80.6 years
2.02 children born/woman (2024 est.)
0.99 (2024 est.)
NA
Improved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 100% of population
Unimproved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
3.2% of GDP (2020)
1.41 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
Improved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 99.1% of population
Unimproved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 0.9% of population (2020 est.)
55.9% (2016)
Total: 12.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Beer: 3.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 7.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 24% (2020 est.)
Male: 27.7% (2020 est.)
Female: 20.3% (2020 est.)
NA
42.6% (2023 est.)
4.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA
Total: 15 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 14 years (2012)
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
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
Tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March
Agricultural land: 8.4% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 4.2% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 4.2% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Forest: 64.6% (2018 est.)
Other: 27% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 76.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Particulate matter emissions: 7.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
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
Parliamentary democracy
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
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
None
4 August 1965 (Cook Islands became self-governing state in free association with New Zealand)
Constitution Day, the first Monday in August (1965)
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
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: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Sir Tom J. MARSTERS (since 9 August 2013); New Zealand High Commissioner Catherine GRAHAM (since April 2024)
Head of government: Prime Minister Mark BROWN (since 1 October 2020)
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 King's representative serves as a consultative body to the Parliament
Elections: last held on 1 August 2022 (next to be held by 2026)
Election results: percent of vote by party - CIP 44%, Demo 26.9%, Cook Islands United Party 26.9%, OCI 2.7%, other 0.2% independent 7.3%; seats by party - CIP 12, Demo 5, Cook Islands United Party 3, OCI 1, independent 3; composition - men 18, women 6, percentage women 25%
Highest 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 [Mark BROWN]
Cook Islands United Party [Teariki HEATHER]
Democratic Party or Demo [Tina BROWNE]
One Cook Islands Movement or OCI [George TURIA]
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
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, Tiare maori (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors: green, 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
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
$266 million (2022 est.)
$257 million (2021 est.)
$287 million (2020 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 dollars
10.5% (2022 est.)
-24.5% (2021 est.)
-5.2% (2020 est.)
$15,600 (2022 est.)
$15,100 (2021 est.)
$16,800 (2020 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 dollars
$336 million (2022 est.)
Agriculture: 5.1% (2010 est.)
Industry: 12.7% (2010 est.)
Services: 82.1% (2010 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 27; industry 196; agriculture 126
Coconuts, vegetables, papayas, pork, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, fruits, mangoes/guavas, watermelons, eggs (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Fishing, fruit processing, tourism, clothing, handicrafts
Revenues: $86.9 million (2010)
Expenditures: $77.9 million (2010)
3% (of GDP) (2010 est.)
$31.4 million (2021 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.
Japan 42%, France 27%, Thailand 12%, US 4%, Italy 3% (2022)
Note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Fish, ships, surveying equipment, sports equipment, garments (2022)
Note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
$215 million (2021 est.)
$109.3 million (2011 est.)
$90.62 million (2010 est.)
NZ 51%, Italy 18%, Fiji 11%, China 7%, Australia 3% (2022)
Note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Refined petroleum, ships, cars, plastic products, other foods (2022)
Note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
$141 million (1996 est.)
NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
1.416 (2017 est.)
1.4341 (2016 est.)
1.4341 (2015 est.)
1.441 (2014 est.)
1.4279 (2013 est.)
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.)
Comparison rankings: imports 189; exports 184; installed generating capacity 205; transmission/distribution losses 10; consumption 203
Fossil fuels: 70% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Solar: 30% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
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.)
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.)
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
611 bbl/day (2015 est.)
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.)
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.)
0 Btu/person (2019 est.)
Total subscriptions: 7,000 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2021 est.)
Total subscriptions: 17,000 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2021 est.)
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)
Domestic: service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable; nearly 41 per 100 fixed-line and about 100 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021)
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)
1 privately owned TV station broadcasts from Rarotonga providing a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs (2019)
.ck
Total: 11,382 (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 64.8% (2021 est.)
Total: 2,700 (2018 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2018 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6
E5
10 (2024)
Total: 295 km
Paved: 207 km
Unpaved: 88 km (2018)
Total: 190 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 19, general cargo 44, oil tanker 58, other 69
Total ports: 1 (2024)
Large: 0
Medium: 0
Small: 0
Very small: 1
Ports with oil terminals: 1
Key ports: Avatiu
No regular military forces; Cook Islands Police Service
Defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
The Cook Islands have a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within its designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2023)