Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Cook Islands
Cook Islands: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 10,199 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Cook Islands, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Cook Islands recorded 10,199 people for number of people living in urban and rural areas in 2025.
That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and down 21.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Cook Islands peaked at 13,027 people in 2012 and was at its lowest, 5,503 people, in 1950.
That places Cook Islands 226th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6,707 people | 5,503 people | 8,001 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 9,516 people | 8,346 people | 10,680 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 10,382 people | 9,577 people | 11,221 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,400 people | 9,226 people | 9,721 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 10,292 people | 9,930 people | 10,483 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 10,851 people | 10,199 people | 12,043 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 12,764 people | 12,152 people | 13,027 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,021 people | 10,199 people | 11,825 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cook Islands
- 223 Palau 14,004 people compare
- 224 Nauru 12,025 people compare
- 225 Saint Barthelemy 11,414 people compare
- 227 Tuvalu 6,212 people compare
- 228 Liechtenstein 5,871 people compare
- 229 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 5,026 people compare
More population data for Cook Islands
- World population growth -0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 335 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.4% (2100)
- Population density 33.01 people per km² (2100)
- Birth rate by women's age group 20.58 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 (2023)
- Natural population growth rate vs. median age 0.3% (2023)
- Comparison of fertility rates that account for survival of children 2.04 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 2.01 children per women (2023)
- Children per woman vs. Natural population growth 0.3% (2023)
- Fertility rate vs. GDP per capita 2.04 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Cook Islands?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Cook Islands was 10,199 people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Cook Islands?
- The highest recorded value was 13,027 people in 2012.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Cook Islands?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,503 people in 1950.
- How does Cook Islands rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Cook Islands ranks 226th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Cook Islands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cook Islands data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.