Country Profile: Cook Islands

The Cook Islands is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean, consisting of 15 islands characterized by volcanic and coral atoll formations. With a population estimated at 7,592 in 2025, the Cook Islands has a diverse cultural heritage primarily rooted in Polynesian ancestry. The economy is heavily reliant on tourism, agriculture, and external aid, particularly from New Zealand, with self-governing status achieved in 1965. Despite its autonomy, the Cook Islands retains close ties to New Zealand for defense and foreign affairs, recently recognized as a sovereign state by the United States in September 2023.

Geography

The Cook Islands are situated in Oceania, roughly halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. The archipelago covers an area of 236 sq km and features a mix of low coral atolls in the north and volcanic islands in the south. The climate is tropical oceanic, with distinct wet and dry seasons. Notable natural resources include coconuts, grown mainly for copra production.

120 km of coastline.
7.9% of land used for agriculture (2023).
2.1% of land is arable (2023).
65% of land is forested (2023).

People and Society

The population of the Cook Islands is projected to be 7,592 in 2025, predominantly comprised of Cook Island Maori. English and Cook Islands Maori are the official languages, with a rich cultural diversity evident in the various ethnic groups present. The society places a strong emphasis on family and community, reflecting in its religious practices.

77.4% of the population identify as Cook Island Maori.
11.85 births/1,000 population (2025).
77.6 years is the life expectancy at birth (2024).
53.2% of women (ages 15-49) are currently married (2021).

Economy

The economy of the Cook Islands is classified as a high-income, self-governing territory with a strong reliance on tourism, which has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Agriculture contributes to exports, primarily through copra and tropical fruits. The government engages in external relations and receives development aid from international partners.

$401.155 million GDP (PPP) estimated for 2024.
10.5% GDP growth rate in 2022.
33% of exports go to Japan (2023).
44% of imports come from New Zealand (2023).

Government

The Cook Islands operates as a parliamentary democracy and maintains a self-governing status in free association with New Zealand, which provides defense and foreign affairs support. The capital is Avarua, where the political framework is influenced by traditional and modern governance structures.

24 members in the unicameral Parliament, with elections every 4 years.
25% of parliamentary seats held by women.
Last elections were held on August 1, 2022.
The current Prime Minister is Mark BROWN (since 2020).

Military and Security

The Cook Islands do not have a standing military force, with defense responsibilities resting with New Zealand. The local police service handles law enforcement, and there are agreements with the US for maritime security operations within the exclusive economic zone.

No regular military forces; reliant on the Cook Islands Police Service.
A "shiprider" agreement with the US enables joint maritime law enforcement.

Energy

The energy sector in the Cook Islands is comprised of a mix of fossil fuels and renewable sources, particularly solar. The installed electricity generation capacity is modest, with efforts ongoing to improve energy resilience.

17,000 kW installed generating capacity (2023).
37.5 million kWh of electricity consumed (2023).
60.9% of electricity comes from fossil fuels (2023).
3.2 million kWh lost in transmission/distribution (2023).

Environment

Environmental challenges in the Cook Islands include solid waste disposal, soil degradation, and overfishing, alongside the challenges posed by climate change. The nation participates in multiple international environmental agreements aimed at addressing these issues.

65% of land is forested (2023).
76.2% of the population lives in urban areas (2023).
103,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions estimated for 2023.

Transportation

Transportation in the Cook Islands includes air travel and maritime logistics, with several airports and a small fleet of merchant vessels supporting trade and travel.

10 airports planned by 2025.
190 vessels in the merchant marine (2023).
1 port with an oil terminal (2024).

Communications

Communications infrastructure includes telephone services and internet access, with a growing number of mobile subscriptions and internet users reflecting improving connectivity.

6,990 fixed-line telephone subscriptions (2022).
64.8% of the population are internet users (2021).
18,100 mobile subscriptions (2022).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	7,592	Estimated for 2025
Area	236 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$401.155 million	Estimated for 2024
Life Expectancy at Birth	77.6 years	Estimated for 2024
Birth Rate	11.85 births/1,000	Estimated for 2025
Real GDP Growth Rate	10.5%	Estimated for 2022
Energy Consumption	37.5 million kWh	Estimated for 2023
Installed Electricity Capacity	17,000 kW	Estimated for 2023
Urban Population	76.2%	Total population urbanization (2023)
Unemployment Rate	-	Not specified