Government Finance Statistics show the economic activities of government. The series is published annually and includes information on revenue & expenditure, by type & function.

Note: The following release of Cook Islands Government Finance Statistics is based on preliminary unaudited accounts and are subject to change once the audited accounts become available. The tables presented shows Cook Island Government operations and Classifications of the functions of Government (COFOG) over one fiscal year ending June 2022.

Cook Islands GFS 2022

• Total operating revenue was $179.3 million. A decrease of 13.03 percent when compared to the year ended June 2021. The reduction in revenue was attributed to a decrease in both grants and other revenue.
• Total operating expenditure was $203.6 million. A decrease of 25.6 percent when compared to the year ended June 2021. This was caused by a reduction in the use of goods and services, subisidies, social benefits as well as other expenses.
• General Government net operating balance shrank to a $24.3 million deficit, following a $67.3 million deficit in the year ended June 2021.

Classification of Function of Government(COFOG):

For the year ended 2022, the classification of functions of government totalled $226 million. Economic affairs accounted for the majority of government spending with 36.2 percent. General public services as well as health followed closely with a spending of 23.4 percent and 11.5 percent respectively.

Information about Government Finance Statistics

The primary purpose of Government Finance Statistics (GFS), and in particular the international guidelines provided through the Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014 (GFSM 2014) is to provide a comprehensive conceptual and reporting framework suitable for analysing and evaluating fiscal policy, especially the performance of the general government sector and the broader public sector of any economy.

The Cook Islands has adopted the new guidelines, issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and updated its data series from the previous version of the Government Finance Statistics Manual 1986 (GFSM 1986) to the GFSM 2014.

This data series presents a statement of government operations, revenue, expense, transactions is assets and liabilities, the balance sheet and classifications of the functions of government (COFOG).

The statement of operations presents details of transactions in revenue and expense, as well as the net investment in nonfinancial assets, the net acquisition of financial assets, and the net incurrence of liabilities. The statement derives two important analytical balances, (1) the net operating balance and (2) the net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) requirement of the government.

The Cook Islands net operating balance summarise and serve as a measure of the general government and public sector’s fiscal sustainability. The net operating balance excludes gains and losses resulting from changes in price levels and other changes in the volume of assets.

Net lending (+) / net borrowing (–) summarise and serve as a measure indicating the extent to which the Cook Islands has put their financial resources at the disposal of other sectors in the economy or abroad, or utilizing its financial resources generated by other sectors in the economy or from abroad.

Revenue reflects the increase in net worth, expense reflects the decrease in net worth and transactions in assets and liabilities reflects the changes in the holdings of nonfinancial assets, financial assets and liability transactions. The Balance sheet reflects stock positions in the holdings of nonfinancial assets, financial assets and liabilities. Expenditure is the sum of expense and the net investment in nonfinancial assets and is presented as an additional aggregate.

COFOG provides a detailed classification of the functions, or socioeconomic objectives, that general government units aim to achieve through various kinds of expenditure. COFOG is integral to the GFS presentation and is also referred to as classifications of expenditure according to purpose. Although COFOG statistics are included, the Cook Islands Statistics Office in collaboration with the Crown Accounts Division has registered it as an area for future development and improvement.