Cook Islands
Background
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.
Area
Coastline
120 km
Elevation
Geographic coordinates
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 sq km
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Location
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references
Oceania
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Natural hazards
tropical cyclones (November to March)
Natural resources
Terrain
low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Age structure
Alcohol consumption per capita
12.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Birth rate
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
53.2% (2021 est.)
Death rate
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 53 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 27.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 25.5 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.9 (2025 est.)
Education expenditure
3.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 9.2% national budget (2025 est.)
Ethnic groups
Gross reproduction rate
0.97 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure
3.2% of GDP (2020) 11.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Hospital bed density
8.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.6 years (2024 est.) male: 74.8 years female: 80.6 years
Maternal mortality ratio
0 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Median age
total: 41.5 years (2025 est.) male: 40.7 years female: 41.4 years
Nationality
noun: Cook Islander(s) adjective: Cook Islander
Net migration rate
-23.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
55.9% (2016)
Physician density
1.67 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Population distribution
most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga
Population growth rate
-2.15% (2025 est.)
Population
- breakdown
- {"male":{"value":3890,"unit":"people","formatted":"3,890","name":"Male Population"},"female":{"value":3702,"unit":"people","formatted":"3,702","name":"Female Population"}}
- meta
- {"year":2025}
Religions
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 15 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 15 years (2023 est.)
Sex ratio
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.)
Tobacco use
total: 24% (2025 est.) male: 28.6% (2025 est.) female: 20.1% (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.99 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
103,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 103,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Climate
tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March
Environmental issues
solid- and liquid-waste disposal; soil degradation; deforestation; 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
Land use
agricultural land: 7.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 2.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 5.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 65% (2023 est.) other: 27.1% (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
7.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 76.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Capital
- name
- Avarua
- geo
- {"lat":-21.2,"lng":-159.7667}
- timezone
- {"difference":"UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)","note":null,"dst":null}
- meta
- {}
Constitution
history: 4 August 1965 (Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964) amendment process: 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
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
Dependency status
self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs and conducts its own international relations, including establishing diplomatic relationships with foreign countries; New Zealand has a constitutional responsibility to respond to requests for assistance with foreign affairs, disasters, and defense
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 Catherine GRAHAM (since 8 September 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Mark BROWN (since 1 October 2020) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister election/appointment process: 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
description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and a large circle of 15 five-pointed white stars (one for each island) centered in the right half of the flag
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Independence
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation
Judicial branch
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) 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 note: appeals beyond the Cook Islands Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Legal system
common law similar to New Zealand common law
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 24 (directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 8/1/2022 parties elected and seats per party: CIP (12); Demo (5); Cook Islands United Party (3); OCI (1); independent (3) percentage of women in chamber: 25% expected date of next election: 2026 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
National anthem(s)
title: "Te Atua Mou E" (To God Almighty) lyrics/music: Tepaeru Te RITO/Thomas DAVIS history: adopted 1982; as prime minister, Sir Thomas DAVIS composed the anthem; Pa Tepaeru Terito Ariki, his wife and a tribal chief, wrote the lyrics title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: royal anthem
National coat of arms
the coat of arms was designed by Papa Motu Kora, a mataiapo (traditional chief) from the Matavera village in Rarotonga; the shield with a circle of 15 five-pointed white stars represents the protection of the people and the country; on each side of the shield is a flying fish (maroro) and a white tern (kakaia); a Rarotongan orator club above the fish represents local traditions, and a cross above the tern symbolizes Christianity; a red-feathered Ariki headdress (pare kura) at the top of the shield represents the country’s traditional ranking system
National color(s)
green, white
National holiday
National symbol(s)
a circle of 15 five-pointed white stars on a blue field, tiare maori flower (Gardenia taitensis)
Political parties
Cook Islands Party or CIP Democratic Party or Demo One Cook Islands or OCI
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Agricultural products
Budget
revenues: $113.687 million (2022 est.) expenditures: $143.391 million (2022 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Economic 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
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 1.652 (2024 est.) 1.628 (2023 est.) 1.577 (2022 est.) 1.414 (2021 est.) 1.542 (2020 est.)
Exports - commodities
Exports - partners
GDP (official exchange rate)
Imports - commodities
Imports - partners
Industries
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
10.6% (2022 est.) 1.9% (2021 est.) 1% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Real GDP growth rate
10.5% (2022 est.) -24.5% (2021 est.) -5.2% (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$401.155 million (2024 est.) $364.686 million (2023 est.) $306.285 million (2022 est.) note: data are in 2015 dollars
Coal
imports: 1 metric tons (2022 est.)
Electricity generation sources
Electricity generation sources
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 17,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 37.5 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.2 million kWh (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 700 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
15 (2018 est.)
Broadcast media
1 privately owned TV station in Rarotonga provides a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs (2019)
Internet country code
.ck
Internet users
percent of population: 64.8% (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 18,100 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2022 est.)
Airports
10 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
E5
Merchant marine
total: 190 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 19, general cargo 44, oil tanker 58, other 69
Ports
total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Avatiu
Military and security forces
no regular military forces; Cook Islands Police Service
Military - note
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 (2025)