Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Cook Islands
Cook Islands: Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas was 15,644 people in 2020. ▼ Falling
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Cook Islands, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Cook Islands recorded 15,644 people for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020.
That represents a change of up 83.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Cook Islands peaked at 20,488 people in 1970 and was at its lowest, 6,903 people, in 2005.
Cook Islands ranks 204th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Cook Islands, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 14,693 people | — |
| 1955 | 16,168 people | +10.0% |
| 1960 | 17,662 people | +9.2% |
| 1965 | 18,779 people | +6.3% |
| 1970 | 20,488 people | +9.1% |
| 1975 | 18,896 people | -7.8% |
| 1980 | 17,696 people | -6.4% |
| 1985 | 16,832 people | -4.9% |
| 1990 | 17,120 people | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 17,781 people | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 15,854 people | -10.8% |
| 2005 | 6,903 people | -56.5% |
| 2010 | 8,539 people | +23.7% |
| 2015 | 9,594 people | +12.4% |
| 2020 | 15,644 people | +63.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15,430 people | 14,693 people | 16,168 people | 2 |
| 1960s | 18,220 people | 17,662 people | 18,779 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 19,692 people | 18,896 people | 20,488 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 17,264 people | 16,832 people | 17,696 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 17,450 people | 17,120 people | 17,781 people | 2 |
| 2000s | 11,379 people | 6,903 people | 15,854 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 9,066 people | 8,539 people | 9,594 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 15,644 people | 15,644 people | 15,644 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Cook Islands
- 201 Antigua and Barbuda 22,535 people compare
- 202 Andorra 20,594 people compare
- 203 Marshall Islands 17,348 people compare
- 205 Northern Mariana Islands 15,328 people compare
- 206 Anguilla 14,843 people compare
- 207 British Virgin Islands 13,763 people compare
More population data for Cook Islands
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4399 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.03 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4399 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3917 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 1.52 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.4% (2100)
- Population density 33.01 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 335 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.4% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate -3.06 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Cook Islands?
- Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Cook Islands was 15,644 people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Cook Islands?
- The highest recorded value was 20,488 people in 1970.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Cook Islands?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,903 people in 2005.
- How does Cook Islands rank for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Cook Islands ranks 204th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Cook Islands?
- Over the last ten years it is up 83.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Cook Islands data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of people living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.