Aitutaki

Cook Islands

Name: World Residence Index 2026 scores for Cook Islands
Published: 2026

Region: Oceania
Capital: Avarua
Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Density: 76 / km²

WRI Score 2026

75.98

scale 1–100 · higher is better

Global rank: 36th
In Oceania: 2nd
Ranked: 211

Parameter Breakdown · 2026

The nine components behind the score.

Every parameter is scored 1–100, higher is better, equally weighted; their sum normalises to the 0–100 WRI Score.

Personal Income Tax · 100 = no income tax Top rate 30%· KPMG / EY
40.6
Above-average top marginal rate.
Population Density · 100 = uncrowded 76 / km²· UN WPP
67.6
Moderate population density.
GDP per Capita · 100 = highest output per resident $30,161· IMF WEO 2026
69.7
Middle-income economy by per-capita output.
Life Expectancy · 100 = longest life expectancy 76.6 years· WHO / UN
66.7
Moderate life expectancy relative to peers.
Tourism & Lifestyle · 100 = strongest lifestyle appeal 5 arrivals per capita· UNWTO
100.0
Exceptionally high tourism intensity relative to population.
Unemployment · 100 = lowest unemployment 6%· ILO / SECO
82.8
Low, stable labour market.
Warmongering · 100 = least militarised 0% of GDP· SIPRI
100.0
Minimal defence spending relative to output.
Safety & Rule of Law · 100 = safest Composite· UNODC · WJP · TI
62.6
Moderate safety and rule-of-law composite.
Ideological Neutrality · 100 = most ideologically neutral WRI rubric composite· WRI rubric
96.0
Among the highest ideological-neutrality scores on this list.

Where it sits

Among the world's elite tier.

Cook Islands holds 36th of 211 with a WRI Score of 75.98 — ranks solidly in the top quarter of the index. The score is driven by near-perfect tourism and lifestyle appeal (100) and military posture (100), with its tax treatment standing out as a moderate constraint.