The Cook Islands are a collection of fifteen islands with a total land area of approximately 240 square kilometres, situated in the western region of the Pacific, geographically north of New Zealand, east of the Australian mainland and south of Samoa. Despite the small landmass, the Cook Islands Economic Zone covers an area of almost 2 million square kilometres. The remoteness of this location combined with small landmass and population are constraints on the development of major primary, mining or manufacturing industries. The aesthetic attractiveness of these Pacific islands has promoted tourism to be the number one industry, well ahead of offshore banking, pearls, marine and fruit exports.

The Cook Islands has very strong links with its closest neighbour, New Zealand, and its citizens enjoy joint nationality and free access to New Zealand. While this may be seen as an advantage, it also poses a threat to Cook Islands in that according to recent census information, the population of approximately 20,000 is diminishing by a little over 3% per annum, with a larger population of 58,000 Cook Islanders now living in New Zealand rather than in their native country.

New Zealand, at the request of the Cook Islands and with ongoing consultation, takes responsibility for the defence of all Cook Island territories, further increasing dependency of Cook Islands upon its neighbour. However, recent moves are to increase autonomy in international affairs.

Languages spoken reflect the geographical and historical influences of the three neighbouring countries upon the Cook Islands. The official languages are English and Cook Islands Maori (Rarotongan), a dialectic variant closely related to both Tahitian and to New Zealand Māori. In contrast, Pukapukan, which is also spoken, is considered to be related to the Samoan language.

Almost all the inhabitants adhere to the Christian faith through the various church groups represented, including Cook Islands Christian Church, Roman Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist among others.

The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in free association with New Zealand, with the British monarch being the Head of State. Being a member of the British Commonwealth combined with a strong association with New Zealand, the Cook Islands has struck a balance between the independence enjoyed by a small nation and the stability of strong alliances with much more powerful and better-resourced allies.