Cook Islands Demographics

Population of the Cook Islands (2026)

View live population, charts & trends: Population of the Cook Islands

Cook Islands Population
12,826
see live
Yearly Change
−3.29%
Global Share
< 0.01%
Global Rank

Median Age

The median age in the Cook Islands is 38.1 years (2026).

Fertility in the Cook Islands

A Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1 represents the Replacement-Level Fertility : the average number of children per woman needed for each generation to exactly replace itself without needing international immigration. A value below 2.1 will cause the native population to decline


Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
1.97
(Live Births per Woman, 2026)

Life Expectancy in the Cook Islands

See also: Countries in the world ranked by Life Expectancy

Both Sexes
75.8
(life expectancy at birth, both sexes combined)
Females
79.5
(life expectancy at birth, females)
Males
72.4
(life expectancy at birth, males)


Infant Mortality Rate and Deaths of Children under 5 Years Old in the Cook Islands


Infant Mortality
5.0
(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)
Deaths under age 5
6.0
(per 1,000 live births)


Cook Islands Urban Population

Currently, 77.2% of the population of the Cook Islands is urban (9,897 people in 2026)


Population Density

The 2026 population density in the Cook Islands is 54 people per km² (141 people per mi2), calculated on a total land area of 236 km² (91 sq. miles).

Largest Districts and Villages in the Cook Islands

The 30 largest of 40 districts and villages, ranked by population at the census of December 1, 2011 (by Cook Islands Statistics Office).

RankDistrict or VillagePopulation
1Avarua5,113(2021 census)
2Arorangi2,661(2021 census)
3Titikaveka1,276(2021 census)
4Matavera1,018(2021 census)
5Ngatangiia795(2021 census)
6Vaipae411
7Amuri321
8Nikaupara245
9Te Makatea241
10Tautu207
11Ureia192
12Roto190
13Reureu183
14Areora173
15Omoka168
16Yato166
17Arutanga143
18Tauhunu136
19Auta-Atai124
20Teenui115
21Kimiangatau108
22Makatea-Areora102
23Tukao102
24Tamarua97
25Ngake95
26Mapumai92
27Nassau92(2021 census)
28Ngatiarua89
29Ivirua77
30Tavaenga72
See all 40 districts and villages in the Cook Islands

See also

Sources

Definitions

Population Pyramid

A Population pyramid (also called "Age-Sex Pyramid") is a graphical representation of the age and sex of a population.

Types:

  • Expansive - pyramid with a wide base (larger percentage of people in younger age groups, indicating high birth rates and high fertility rates) and narrow top (high death rate and lower life expectancies). It suggests a growing population. Example: Nigeria Population Pyramid
  • Constrictive - pyramid with a narrow base (lower percentage of younger people, indicating declining birth rates with each succeeding age group getting smaller than the previous one). Example: United States
  • Stationary - with a somewhat equal proportion of the population in each age group. The population is stable, neither increasing nor decreasing.

Stages:

Population pyramid stages

Dependency Ratio

There are three types of age dependency ratio: Youth, Elderly, and Total. All three ratios are commonly multiplied by 100.

Youth Dependency Ratio

Definition: population ages 0-15 divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 0-15] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Elderly dependency ratio

Definition: population ages 65-plus divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 65-plus] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Total dependency ratio

Definition: sum of the youth and old-age ratios.

Formula: (([Population ages 0-15] + [Population ages 65-plus]) ÷ [Population ages 16-64] ) × 100

NOTE: Dependency Ratio does not take into account labor force participation rates by age group. Some portion of the population counted as "working age" may actually be unemployed or not in the labor force whereas some portion of the "dependent" population may be employed and not necessarily economically dependent.