Country Profile: Cook Islands

The Cook Islands, located in the South Pacific Ocean, is a tropical paradise composed of both low-lying coral atolls in the north and volcanic islands in the south, with Rarotonga being the largest and most populous. As of 2024, the population is approximately 7,761, primarily residing on Rarotonga, contributing to a unique cultural tapestry influenced by the Cook Island Maori and various Pacific communities. The economy is heavily reliant on tourism, with recent efforts to diversify post-COVID-19, while maintaining a close association with New Zealand, which oversees its defense and foreign affairs.

Geography

The Cook Islands is situated halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, featuring both volcanic and low coral atoll terrains. The islands have a total area of 236 sq km and are characterized by a tropical oceanic climate, with a dry season from April to November and a humid season from December to March.

120 km of coastline
7.9% of land is used for agriculture (2022)
65% of land is forested (2022)
12 nm territorial sea claim
200 nm exclusive economic zone

People and Society

As of 2024, the Cook Islands has an estimated population of 7,761, with a notable diversity in ethnic groups. The population consists primarily of Cook Island Maori (77.4%), and other ethnicities include Fijians and Filipinos. The official languages are English and Cook Islands Maori, and religious affiliations largely center around Christianity.

65.9% of the population is aged between 15 and 64 years
12.1 births/1,000 population (2024)
Life expectancy is 77.6 years (2024)
0 deaths maternal mortality ratio (2023)
76.2% of the population is urban (2023)

Economy

The economy of the Cook Islands is classified as high-income and relies significantly on tourism, agriculture, and fishing. In 2022, the GDP (PPP) was estimated at $266 million, showing a recovery with a 10.5% growth rate following the pandemic's impact.

$15,600 GDP per capita (PPP, 2022)
$336 million GDP at official exchange rate (2022)
$113.674 million in revenues (2022)
30% of exports are directed towards Japan (2023)
44% of imports come from New Zealand (2023)

Government

The Cook Islands operates as a self-governing parliamentary democracy, with a close association with New Zealand for defense and foreign affairs. The capital, Avarua, is located on Rarotonga. The government consists of a Prime Minister, a unicameral Parliament, and a judiciary system based on common law.

Prime Minister: Mark Brown (since 2020)
King Charles III is the chief of state (since 2022)
Universal suffrage at 18 years of age
24 seats in Parliament
National holiday celebrated on 4 August (Constitution Day)

Military and Security

The Cook Islands does not maintain a regular military force; instead, defense is managed by New Zealand. The Cook Islands Police Service serves as the main law enforcement body, with a notable "shiprider" agreement in place with the U.S. to collaborate on maritime law enforcement.

No regular military forces present
Cook Islands Police Service is responsible for internal security
Defense collaboration with New Zealand
U.S. "shiprider" agreement allows for joint maritime operations (2025)

Energy

The Cook Islands utilizes a mix of fossil fuels and solar energy for electricity generation. As of 2023, the total installed capacity for electricity generation is 17,000 kW, reflecting a sustainable transition toward renewable energy sources.

37.5 million kWh consumed (2023)
60.9% of electricity comes from fossil fuels (2023)
103,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions (2023)

Environment

Environmental issues in the Cook Islands include waste disposal, soil degradation, and overfishing. The nation is committed to various international environmental agreements aimed at addressing climate change, biodiversity, and pollution.

65% of land is forested (2022)
Party to multiple international environmental agreements
0 cubic meters of renewable water resources (2017)

Transportation

Transportation within the Cook Islands includes air and sea routes, with a total of 10 airports and a merchant marine fleet of 190 vessels. The primary port, Avatiu, handles the majority of maritime traffic.

1 port with oil terminal
37.5 million kWh of electricity consumed (2023)
Civil aircraft registration code: E5

Communications

The communication landscape in the Cook Islands is evolving, with a significant increase in mobile cellular subscriptions and internet usage among the population. As of 2021, about 64.8% of the population were internet users.

17,000 mobile cellular subscriptions (2021)
7,000 fixed line subscriptions (2021)
2,700 fixed broadband subscriptions (2018)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	7,761	Estimate for 2024
Area	236 sq km	Total land area
GDP (PPP)	$266 million	Estimate for 2022
GDP per capita (PPP)	$15,600	Estimate for 2022
Life expectancy	77.6 years	Estimate for 2024
Birth rate	12.1 births/1,000	Estimate for 2024
Unemployment	Not specified
Energy consumption	37.5 million kWh	Consumption for 2023
Total agricultural land	7.9%	As of 2022
Urban population	76.2%	Of total population (2023)