Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 2,700 (2013) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15.14 (2013)

Broadcast media [time series]

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

Internet country code [time series]

.ck

Internet users [time series]

total: 9,487 (2021 est.) percent of population: 54% (2019 est.)

Telecommunication systems [time series]

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; 38 per 100 fixed-line, 83 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019) 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) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 6,576 (2017) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37.56 (2017 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 14,539 (2017) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 83.05 (2017 est.)

Agricultural products [time series]

vegetables, coconuts, roots/tubers nes, cassava, papayas, tomatoes, pork, fruit, sweet potatoes, mangoes/guavas

Budget [time series]

revenues: 86.9 million (2010) expenditures: 77.9 million (2010)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

3% (of GDP) (2010 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$26.67 million (2005)

Debt - external [time series]

$141 million (1996 est.)

Economic overview [time series]

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.

Exchange rates [time series]

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.)

Exports [time series]

$3.125 million (2011 est.) $5.163 million (2010 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

fish products, recreational boats, precious metal scraps, fruit juice, chemical analysis instruments (2019)

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 37%, Thailand 21%, France 17% (2019)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$299.9 million (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 5.1% (2010 est.) industry: 12.7% (2010 est.) services: 82.1% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$109.3 million (2011 est.) $90.62 million (2010 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

ships, refined petroleum, recreational boats, cars, flavored water (2019)

Imports - partners [time series]

New Zealand 41%, China 21%, Italy 12%, Fiji 10% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1% (2002)

Industries [time series]

fishing, fruit processing, tourism, clothing, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.2% (2011 est.)

Labor force [time series]

6,820 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 29% industry: 15% services: 56% (1995)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]

$299.9 million (2016 est.) $183.2 million (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate [time series]

0.1% (2005 est.)

Real GDP per capita [time series]

$16,700 (2016 est.) $9,100 (2005 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

29% (of GDP) (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

13.1% (2005)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

31.62 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

79% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

21% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

14,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

34 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

600 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

611 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Air pollutants [time series]

particulate matter emissions: 12.03 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate [time series]

tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March

Environment - current issues [time series]

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 environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: malaria

Total renewable water resources [time series]

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 75.7% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 236 sq km land: 236 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March

Coastline [time series]

120 km

Elevation [time series]

highest point: Te Manga 652 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates [time series]

21 14 S, 159 46 W

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

NA

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 0 km

Land use [time series]

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.)

Location [time series]

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand

Map references [time series]

Oceania

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Natural hazards [time series]

tropical cyclones (November to March)

Natural resources [time series]

coconuts (copra)

Population distribution [time series]

most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga

Terrain [time series]

low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south

Administrative divisions [time series]

none

Capital [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

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

Dependency status [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

embassy: none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Sir Tom J. MARSTERS (since 9 August 2013); New Zealand Acting High Commissioner Ms Rachel BENNETT (since 9 December 2019) 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

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 with the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Judicial branch [time series]

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 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

Legal system [time series]

common law similar to New Zealand common law

Legislative branch [time series]

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 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%

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Constitution Day, the first Monday in August (1965)

National symbol(s) [time series]

a circle of 15, five-pointed, white stars on a blue field, Tiare maori (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors: green, white

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA] Democratic Party or Demo [Tina BROWNE] One Cook Islands Movement [Teina BISHOP]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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 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. Economic opportunities in the Cook Islands are sparse, and more Cook Islanders live in New Zealand than in the Cook Islands. In a referendum in 1994, voters chose to keep the name Cook Islands rather than changing to a Maori name for the islands. The issue was revived in 2019, but after being poorly received by the diaspora in New Zealand, the government decided to retain the name Cook Islands but to provide a Maori name alongside it. The Maori name has not yet been determined.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request

Military and security forces [time series]

no regular military forces; Cook Islands Police Service

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 19.93% (male 901/female 808) 15-24 years: 14.89% (male 684/female 593) 25-54 years: 37.66% (male 1,595/female 1,634) 55-64 years: 14.15% (male 674/female 539) 65 years and over: 13.37% (male 555/female 591) (2020 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12.85 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

NA

Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]

2.9% (2018)

Death rate [time series]

8.89 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: NA youth dependency ratio: NA elderly dependency ratio: NA potential support ratio: NA

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: total: 100% of population unimproved: total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.5% of GDP (2019)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 81.3%, part Cook Island Maori 6.7%, other 11.9% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 16.33 deaths/1,000 live births male: 20.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.89 years male: 74.05 years female: 79.88 years (2021 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne diseases: malaria

Median age [time series]

total: 38.3 years male: 37.8 years female: 38.7 years (2020 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander

Net migration rate [time series]

-28.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

55.9% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.41 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population [time series]

8,327 (July 2021 est.) note: the Cook Islands' Ministry of Finance Economic Management estimated the resident population to have been 11,700 in September 2016

Population distribution [time series]

most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga

Population growth rate [time series]

-2.46% (2021 est.)

Religions [time series]

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.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: total: 97.6% of population unimproved: total: 2.4% of population (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 14 years (2012)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.25 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.09 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 75.7% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Airports [time series]

total: 11 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

E5

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 194 by type: bulk carrier 19, container ship 1, general cargo 57, oil tanker 54, other 63 (2021)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Avatiu

Roadways [time series]

total: 295 km (2018) paved: 207 km (2018) unpaved: 88 km (2018)