Total population (thousands) in Cook Islands
Cook Islands: Total population (thousands) was 13.49 thousands in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
13.49 thousands
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
223rd
of 233 countries
All-time high
21.05 thousands
in 1972
All-time low
13.49 thousands
in 2025
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Cook Islands, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Cook Islands stood at 13.49 thousands. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 22.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Cook Islands peaked at 21.05 thousands in 1972 and was at its lowest, 13.49 thousands, in 2025.
That places Cook Islands 223rd out of 233 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Cook Islands, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 20.29 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 20.69 thousands | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 21.05 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1973 | 20.49 thousands | -2.6% |
| 1974 | 19.88 thousands | -3.0% |
| 1975 | 19.23 thousands | -3.3% |
| 1976 | 18.56 thousands | -3.5% |
| 1977 | 17.94 thousands | -3.4% |
| 1978 | 17.89 thousands | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 17.81 thousands | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 17.74 thousands | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 17.65 thousands | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 17.56 thousands | -0.5% |
| 1983 | 17.38 thousands | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 17.18 thousands | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 16.95 thousands | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 16.71 thousands | -1.4% |
| 1987 | 16.49 thousands | -1.3% |
| 1988 | 16.67 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 16.84 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 17.02 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 17.22 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 17.4 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 17.54 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 17.64 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 17.73 thousands | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 17.83 thousands | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 17.88 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 17.36 thousands | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 16.8 thousands | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 16.17 thousands | -3.7% |
| 2001 | 15.54 thousands | -3.9% |
| 2002 | 14.93 thousands | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 15 thousands | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 15.05 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 15.1 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 15.16 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 15.25 thousands | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 15.74 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 16.23 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 16.73 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 17.23 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 17.68 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 17.64 thousands | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 17.57 thousands | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 17.49 thousands | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 17.4 thousands | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 17.27 thousands | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 16.83 thousands | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 16.37 thousands | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 15.89 thousands | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 15.39 thousands | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 14.97 thousands | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 14.48 thousands | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 13.97 thousands | -3.5% |
| 2025 | 13.49 thousands | -3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 19.38 thousands | 17.81 thousands | 21.05 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.12 thousands | 16.49 thousands | 17.74 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.44 thousands | 16.8 thousands | 17.88 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.42 thousands | 14.93 thousands | 16.23 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.22 thousands | 16.37 thousands | 17.68 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.7 thousands | 13.49 thousands | 15.89 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cook Islands
- 220 Saint Martin (French part) 25.49 thousands compare
- 221 Palau 17.68 thousands compare
- 222 Anguilla 14.67 thousands compare
- 224 Nauru 11.99 thousands compare
- 225 Saint Barthelemy 11.34 thousands compare
- 226 Wallis and Futuna 11.23 thousands 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 total population in Cook Islands?
- Total population in Cook Islands was 13.49 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Cook Islands?
- The highest recorded value was 21.05 thousands in 1972.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Cook Islands?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.49 thousands in 2025.
- How does Cook Islands rank for total population?
- Cook Islands ranks 223rd out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Cook Islands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Cook Islands data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release