Economy of the Cook Islands

The economy of the Cook Islands is based mainly on tourism, with minor exports made up of tropical and citrus fruit. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit-processing, clothing and handicrafts.

A solar panel array on Pukapuka

As in many other South Pacific nations, the Cook Islands's economy is hindered by the country's isolation from foreign markets, lack of natural resources aside from fish, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure.

Trade deficits are made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. Efforts to exploit tourism potential, encourage offshore banking, and expand the mining and fishing industries have been partially successful in stimulating investment and growth.

Banking and finance

Banks in the Cook Islands are regulated under the Banking Act 2011.^[1] Banks must be licensed and are supervised by the Cook Islands Financial Supervisory Commission.^[2]

The Cook Islands developed an offshore financial services industry in the early 1980s.^[3] Allegations that New Zealand-based companies were using it as a tax haven led to the Winebox Inquiry in New Zealand in the 1990s, and in 2000 it was listed as a tax haven by the OECD.^[4] In 2002 it was delisted after it agreed to fiscal transparency and to exchange tax information.^[5][6] Allegations of being a tax haven re-emerged in 2013 following the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists Offshore Leaks.^[7][8] Trusts incorporated in the Cook Islands are used to provide anonymity and asset-protection.^[9] The Cook Islands also featured in the Panama Papers,^[10] Paradise Papers,^[11][12] and Pandora Papers^[13][14] financial leaks.

The Bank of the Cook Islands was created in 2001 by merging the Cook Islands Development Bank and the Cook Islands Savings Bank.^[15] Economist Vaine Nooana-Arioka has been executive director of the Bank of the Cook Islands since 2008.^[16]

Mining

In 2019, the Cook Islands passed the Sea Bed Minerals (SBM) Act.^[17]

In 2022, the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) granted three exploration licenses for polymetallic nodules within their Exclusive Economic Zone to private companies Cobalt (CIC) Limited, Moana Minerals Limited and Cook Islands Investment Company (CIIC) Seabed Resources Limited, which is co-owned by the Cook Islands Government. The licenses expire in 2027.^[18]

In 2025, the Cook Islands announced that it had signed a five-year agreement with China focused on exploration and research into seabed minerals.^[19]

Telecommunications

Telecom Cook Islands Ltd (TCI) is the sole provider of telecommunications in the Cook Islands. It is a private company owned by Spark New Zealand Ltd (60%) and the Cook Islands Government (40%). In operation since July 1991, TCI provides local, national and international telecommunications as well as internet access on all islands except Suwarrow. Communications to Suwarrow is via HF radio.

Economic statistics

GDP

Purchasing power parity - $183.2 million (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-.05% (2005); -1.2% (2014); -1.7% (2013). Growth in the Cook Islands has slowed due to a lack of infrastructure projects and accommodation capacity constraints in the tourism sector. Cook Islands economic activity is expected to be flat in FY2016; to grow by 0.2% in FY2017. Inflation 1.8% (FY2016); 2.0% (FY2017). Statistics Asian Development Bank

GDP - per capita

$17,033 (2022)^[20]

GDP - composition by sector

• Agriculture: 78.9%
• Industry: 9.6%
• Services: 75.3% (2000)

Population below poverty line

28.4% of the population lives below the national poverty line. Statistics 2016 Asian Development Bank

Household income or consumption by percentage share

• Lowest 10%: NA%
• Highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.2% (2024 est.)^[21]

Labor force

6,820 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation

Agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% (1995)

Unemployment rate

1.3% (2019)^[22]

Budget

• Revenues: $70.95 million
• Expenditures: $69.05 million; including capital expenditures of $5.744 million (FY00/01 est.)

Industries

Fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2002)

Electricity - production

28 GW·h (2003)

Electricity - production by source

• Fossil fuel: 100%
• Hydro: 0%
• Nuclear: 0%
• Other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption

34.46 GW·h (2005 est)

Electricity - exports

0 kW·h (2003)

Electricity - imports

0 kW·h (2003)

Oil consumption

400 bbl/d (64 m³/d) (2003)

Agriculture - products

Copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee, pigs, poultry

Exports

$5.222 million (2005)

Exports - commodities

Copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing

Exports - partners

Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2004)

Imports

$81.04 million (2005)

Imports - commodities

Foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

Imports - partners

New Zealand 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2004)

Debt - external

$141 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$13.1 million (1995); note - New Zealand furnishes the greater part

Currency

1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.4203 (2005), 1.9451 (January 2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995)

Fiscal year

1 April–31 March