Cook Islands
self-governing parliamentary democracy (Parliament of the Cook Islands) in free association with New Zealand
Cook Islands as the 2017 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 136 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965, residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand, government deficits, and limited natural resources are of continuing concern.
Geography
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
19 fieldsLocation
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Climate
- tropical oceanic;
- moderated by trade winds;
- a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March
Land use
- agricultural land:
- 8.4%;
- arable land 4.2%;
- permanent crops 4.2%;
- permanent pasture 0%
- forest:
- 64.6%
- other:
- 27% (2011 est.)
Environment - current issues
limited land presents solid and liquid waste disposal problems; environmental degradation due to unregulated building
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
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
People and Society
26 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2017 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2017 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2011 est.)
Religions(2011 est.)
Languages
English (official) 86.4%, Cook Islands Maori (Rarotongan) (official) 76.2%, other 8.3% note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2011 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.12 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1.14 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 1.17 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.97 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.07 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Government
Self-governing parliamentary democracy (Parliament of the Cook Islands) in free association with New Zealand; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Prime Minister Henry PUNA (since 30 November 2010)
22 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Parliament, formerly the Legislative Assembly, 24 seats, elected 9 July 2014one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- none
- conventional short form:
- Cook 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;
- New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense in consultation with the Cook Islands
Government type
self-governing parliamentary democracy (Parliament of the Cook Islands) in free association with New Zealand
Capital
- name:
- Avarua
- geographic coordinates:
- 21 12 S, 159 46 W
- time difference:
- UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Independence
none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)
Constitution
4 August 1965 (Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964); amended many times, last in 2004 (2016)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
- represented by Tom J. MARSTERS (since 9 August 2013);
- New Zealand High Commissioner Peter MARSHALL (since 10 January 2017)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Henry PUNA (since 30 November 2010)
- 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
Legislative branch
- 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 9 July 2014 (next to be held by 2018)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - CIP 46.1%, Demo 42.3%, One Cook Islands 9.6%, other 2.0%; seats by party - CIP 13, Demo 9, One Cook Islands Movement 2
Judicial branch
- highest resident 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
Political parties and leaders
- Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]
- Democratic Party or Demo [William HEATHER]
- One Cook Islands Movement [Teina BISHOP]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Political Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes); other: various political change lobbyist groups
International organization participation
ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Flag description
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
National symbol(s)
a circle of 15, five-pointed, white stars on a blue field, Tiare maori (Gardenia taitensis) flower; national colors: blue, white
National anthem
- 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
Economy
28 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2010 est.)
Economy - overview
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.
Agriculture - products
copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry
Stock of broad money
$148.2 million (31 December 2011 est.) · $170.9 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Exports - commodities
- copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee;
- fish;
- pearls and pearl shells;
- clothing
Exchange rates
NZ dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4341 (2016 est.) · 1.4341 (2015 est.) · 1.441 (2014 est.) · 1.4279 (2013 est.) · 1.23 (2012 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 10,000 kW(2015 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels
80% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 170
Electricity - from other renewable sources
30% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
200,000 Mt (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(July 2016 est.)
Telephone system
- general assessment:
- Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex
- domestic:
- individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone;
- within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable
- international:
- country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2015)
Broadcast media
1 privately owned TV station broadcasts from Rarotonga providing a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs (2016)
Transportation
8 fieldsMerchant marine, 35 ships by typeone square, one ship
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 1; inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 1 (2015)
Military and Security
No regular military forces; National Police Department
2 fieldsMilitary - note
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Cook Islands.” The World Factbook 2017. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cook-islands/2017.