What is the population of Cook Islands in 2026?
Cook Islands has a population of 17,011 people, which is 224th in the world and about 0.00% of the global total.
Population 2026
17,011
0.00% of world population
Archive estimateAnnual Growth
−2.46%
−418 people a year
Archive estimateDensity
71/km²
237 km² land area
Archive estimateMedian Age
37.1 years
Life expectancy 76.9 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Cook Islands
The Cook Islands, an Oceania nation of 17,011 people ranked #222 globally, achieved self-governance in 1965. The archipelago spans 237 km² with a population density of 71 people per km², three-quarters of whom live in urban areas. The median age of 37.1 years reflects an aging population, while life expectancy stands at 76.9 years and the fertility rate is 2.1 births per woman.
The country has experienced annual population decline of -2.5%. GDP per capita reaches $16,700, supported by both the Cook Islands dollar and New Zealand dollar as legal tender. English and Cook Islands Māori are the principal languages spoken across the islands.
This summary is AI-generated from the indicators on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Avarua
- Continent
- Oceania
- ISO codes
- CK · COK
- Demonym
- Cook Islander
- Currency
- Cook Islands dollar (CKD $), New Zealand dollar (NZD $)
- State inception
- 1965
- Time zone
- UTC−10:00
- Driving side
- Left
- Calling code
- +682
- Internet TLD
- .ck
- Land neighbours
- No land borders
Languages
- English
- Cook Islands Māori
Demographics
Not published for Cook Islands: Birth Rate, Death Rate.
Economy
Not published for Cook Islands: GDP Growth, Unemployment Rate, Inflation Rate, Poverty Rate, Gini Index.
Health
Not published for Cook Islands: Infant Mortality, Health Spending, Physicians, Hospital Beds, Maternal Mortality.
Education
None of our sources publish these indicators for Cook Islands.
Environment
Not published for Cook Islands: Renewable Energy, Forest Coverage, Protected Areas.
Infrastructure
None of our sources publish these indicators for Cook Islands.
Quality of Life
None of our sources publish these indicators for Cook Islands.
Geography
Military
None of our sources publish these indicators for Cook Islands.
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 24.3%
- Age 15–64
- 61.9%
- Age 65+
- 13.7%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 0 | 0 |
| 95-99 | 1 | 5 |
| 90-94 | 12 | 16 |
| 85-89 | 33 | 64 |
| 80-84 | 91 | 133 |
| 75-79 | 177 | 193 |
| 70-74 | 248 | 249 |
| 65-69 | 317 | 348 |
| 60-64 | 455 | 456 |
| 55-59 | 500 | 489 |
| 50-54 | 458 | 492 |
| 45-49 | 388 | 465 |
| 40-44 | 378 | 432 |
| 35-39 | 384 | 415 |
| 30-34 | 311 | 384 |
| 25-29 | 248 | 321 |
| 20-24 | 371 | 369 |
| 15-19 | 613 | 580 |
| 10-14 | 690 | 627 |
| 5-9 | 591 | 540 |
| 0-4 | 460 | 434 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 14,693 |
| 1960 | 17,662 |
| 1970 | 20,488 |
| 1980 | 17,697 |
| 1990 | 17,120 |
| 2000 | 15,854 |
| 2010 | 16,976 |
| 2020 | 15,643 |
| 2030 | 11,495 |
| 2040 | 9,947 |
| 2050 | 9,337 |
| 2060 | 8,645 |
| 2070 | 8,191 |
| 2080 | 8,161 |
| 2090 | 8,139 |
| 2100 | 7,904 |
How Cook Islands Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
- India1.46B
- China1.41B
- United States341.8M
- Indonesia285.7M
- Pakistan255.2M
- Nigeria237.5M
- Brazil212.8M
- Bangladesh175.7M
- Russia143.5M
- Ethiopia135.5M
- Cook Islands17K
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Cook Islands | 17K |
Cook Islands Population FAQ
Is the population of Cook Islands growing or shrinking?
Cook Islands's population is shrinking at −2.46% per year, a change of roughly 418 people annually.
What is the capital of Cook Islands?
The capital of Cook Islands is Avarua.
How densely populated is Cook Islands?
Cook Islands has 71/km² across 237 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Cook Islands?
Life expectancy at birth in Cook Islands is 76.9 years.
What is the median age in Cook Islands?
The median age in Cook Islands is 37.1 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Cook Islands in?
Cook Islands is in Oceania.