Cook Islands
Capital: Avarua
Population: 15,0401
Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD) and Cook Islands dollar (CKD)
The Cook Islands is a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand, located in the South Pacific Ocean, between French Polynesia and American Samoa. It consists of 15 islands, divided into the Northern and Southern groups, with the capital located in Avarua on Rarotonga, the largest island. The Cook Islands has a Polynesian culture and maintains close ties with New Zealand, with Cook Islanders holding New Zealand citizenship. The economy is primarily based on tourism, fishing, offshore banking, and agriculture. While it manages its own internal affairs, New Zealand is responsible for defense and foreign policy, though the Cook Islands conducts independent diplomatic relations. The territory is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the United Nations agencies, and other regional organizations.
Growth Rate
-3.586
%
Fertility Rate
2.045
children born/woman
Crude Death Rate
9.268
per 1,000 people
Life Expectancy
75.3
years
Total Population in Cook Islands
This graph illustrates the total population of a country over time, while also depicting the sex ratio, which indicates the number of males per 100 females in the population.
Population Density
Population Growth Rate (%)
The population growth rate shows how fast a population is increasing or decreasing annually, influenced by birth rates, death rates, and migration in Cook Islands.
Life Expectancy (Years)
Life expectancy indicates the average number of years a person is expected to live.
Median Age (Years)
Median age represents the midpoint of a population’s age distribution, helping to assess whether a population is young, aging, or balanced.
Infant Mortality
Infant mortality rate measures the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
Net migration in 2023 (per 1000 people)
39.235
(-1.268)
Net migration represents the difference between the number of people moving into a country and those leaving.
Fertility Rate
Fertility rate represents the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime
Births vs Deaths
This graph compares the number of births and deaths each year.
Crude Death Rate
Crude death rate measures the number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population per year.
Source
Data is sourced from The World Bank, the United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision), and other collated datasets, including national statistical offices, Eurostat (Demographic Statistics), and the United Nations Statistics Division (Population and Vital Statistics Report, various years).
Note: The information in the KPI is from 2023; any data beyond this year is an estimate from the United Nations.
1Note: Population figures for the Cook Islands are based on the 2021 Census of Population and Dwellings, conducted by the Cook Islands Statistics Office. Source: 2021 Census Report.