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Cook Islands • LA Times
Expanding Its Horizons with California
Cook Islands and the United States formally established diplomatic relations in 2023, strengthening ties across political, economic and development cooperation. In February 2026, the two countries agreed to a Strategic Framework for Engagement and Cooperation, reinforcing a growing partnership built on shared economic opportunities, regional cooperation and long-term engagement.
Following 60 years of self-governance, this high-income Pacific nation is diversifying beyond tourism, into finance, fisheries, and seabed minerals, while fiercely guarding the culture, ocean, and community that define it.
Capital
Avarua
Population
17,300
Life Expectancy
~76 years
Unemployment rate
0.8%
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
~US$386 million in 2024 (NZD 684.2 million) GDP per capita: US$
GDP Growth 2022
4% (2025e)
Foreign Direct Investment
N/A
Exports
~US$34.3 million
Currency
New Zealand Dollar (NZD), supplemented by Cook Islands dollar coins & notes at par
Visitor arrivals
175,757
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Cook Islands • LA Times
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