Sample surveys, such as the Household Income Expenditure Survey (HIES), are conducted at irregular intervals due to high costs involved, thus securing funds for such activity is often difficult. The most recent HIES was conducted in 2015-16.

The 2015/16 is the second HIES to be conducted in the Cook Islands; the first was in 1998. In 2004/05, a HES was conducted which excluded questions on income.

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 Cook Islands 2015-16 Household Income Expenditure (HIES) Report

HIES collects a wealth of information on HH income and expenditure, such as source of income by industry, HH expenditure on goods and services, and income and expenditure associated with subsistence production and consumption. In addition to this, HIES collects information on sectoral and thematic areas, such as education, health, labour force, primary activities, transport, information and communication, transfers and remittances, food expenditure (acquisition) and gender.

The Pacific Islands regionally standardized HIES instruments and procedures were adopted by CISO for the 2015/2016 HIES. These standards, were designed to feed high-quality data to HIES data end users for:

• deriving expenditure weights and other useful data for the revision of the CPI
• supplementing the data available for use in compiling official estimates of various components in the System of NA
• supplementing the data available for production of the balance of payments
• gathering information on poverty lines and the incidence of poverty in Cook Islands

The data allow for the production of useful indicators and information on the industries covered in the survey, including providing data to inform indicators under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report, the above listed outputs, and additional thematic analyses, collectively provide information to assist with multisector planning and policy formation.

The 2015/2016 HIES was conducted to update the 2006 HIES data and aimed at estimating the total amount each HH spent and earned over the past 12 months at the national and island group level (total expenditure and income).

Previous Releases

2005-06 Cook Islands HES Report

Sample surveys, such as the Household Expenditure Survey (HES), are conducted at irregular intervals due to high costs involved, thus securing funds for such activity is often difficult. The most recent HES was conducted in 2005-06.

2005-06 Household Expenditure Survey (HES)

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2005-06 Cook Islands HES Report (PDF, 737kb)

The 2005-06 HES was the third comprehensive survey of household expenditure in the Cook Islands, following on from the 1998 and 1986 surveys. The 2005 HES covered Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Mangaia, Atiu (which also represented Mitiaro and Mauke) for the Southern Group, and Penhryn and Manihiki (to represent Rakahanga, Pukapuka, Nassau and Suwarrow) for the Northern Group, while previous HES were carried out in Rarotonga only.

It was originally planned to survey Pukapuka and have this island representing Nassau and Suwarrow. However, the five cyclones that hit the Cook Islands in early 2005 left Pukapuka heavily damaged, which significantly affected expenditure patterns. As a result, Pukapuka was not enumerated and the Penrhyn and Manihiki samples were increased to cover all the Northern Group.

More on Household Expenditure Survey (HES)...

Information about the Household Expenditure Survey
The Household Economic Survey (HES) collects a wide range of demographic information, private dwelling information, as well as a fine level of detail on the expenditures of households. Unlike previous surveys the most recent HES excluded questions on income and time use due to the poor response from respondents. Further health information was also collected in the 2005 survey.

The overall level of activity in the economy is closely allied with domestic consumer activity. Two key factors determine the ability of individuals to consume goods and services. These are the availability of goods and services to the consumer, and the consumer having the means to acquire them. Among the factors influencing spending patterns are changes in government policies, income levels, consumer preferences, the types of goods and services available in the economy, and household and family structures. The primary means for acquiring goods and services is by cash purchases, obtaining credit or exchanging other goods or services. Production for own use, and gifts from friends and relatives, are also important ways of getting consumable items. 

Previous Releases

1998 Cook Islands Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) Report (PDF, 279kb)