A SNAPSHOT IN HISTORY
A census view of the Islands and its people
A census view of the Islands and its people
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO EXPLORE NEXT?
SOUTHERN GROUP NORTHERN GROUP ISLANDS FACT FILE
OR TAILOR MAKE YOUR OWN TOUR USING THE MENU ON THE LEFT
SOUTHERN GROUP NORTHERN GROUP ISLANDS FACT FILE
OR TAILOR MAKE YOUR OWN TOUR USING THE MENU ON THE LEFT
In November and December, 2006 a snapshot of the Cook Islands and its people was taken through the once-every-five-years census. It's not an easy task because of the wide geographical spread of the Islands, but it gives a unique insight into life. These are preliminary results just published by the Government Statistics Office. Comparisons are with 2001. The population figures on each page of this website are taken from the census statistics.
POPULATION: GOING UP
Total population: +8.6%
Southern Group: +0.5%*
Rarotonga: +16.1%
Aitutaki: +12.7%
Palmerston: +31.3%
*Excluding Rarotonga
Southern Group: +0.5%*
Rarotonga: +16.1%
Aitutaki: +12.7%
Palmerston: +31.3%
*Excluding Rarotonga
POPULATION: GOING DOWN
Northern Group: -24.2%
Manihiki: -31.8%
Penrhyn: -29.7%
Pukapuka: -23.6%
Mangaia: -12.1%
Atiu: - 8.2%
Mauke: -16.4%
Mitiaro: -4.8%
Rakahanga: -16.6%
Nassau: -1.4%
Manihiki: -31.8%
Penrhyn: -29.7%
Pukapuka: -23.6%
Mangaia: -12.1%
Atiu: - 8.2%
Mauke: -16.4%
Mitiaro: -4.8%
Rakahanga: -16.6%
Nassau: -1.4%
19,569 people live in the Islands and their distribution is largely unchanged since 1991. The 2006 results show 72.3% of people live on Rarotonga, and 20.6% in the rest of the Southern Group of islands. Just 7.1% live on the six Northern Group islands.
YOUNG AT HEART
Palmerston has the highest proportion of young people. Nearly half (49.2%) are under 15. Surprisingly perhaps, Rarotonga has the lowest with just 23%. Mangaia has the highest proportion of those aged 60 and over. They account for 18.2% of the island's population. Nassau has the lowest with just over 4%.
LIVING ROOM
There are 4,308 occupied private homes in the Islands, nearly three quarters of them on Rarotonga. Nassau has the fewest with just 15, closely followed by Palmerston with 18. The total number of occupied homes across the Islands is up 11% on 2001.
FIGURING OUT THE FAMILY
The size of the average household in the Islands dropped slightly from 3.9 to 3.7 people. But in Pukapuka, the extended family is alive and well. The average household there has 5.3 people. Government statistician, Taggy Tangimetua (pictured left) says: "The assumption is that Cook Islanders are moving away from living with extended family and towards the nuclear type family dwelling".
WOMAN POWER!
Aitutaki, Mangaia and Rakahanga seem to be the best places for a woman to find a husband. They're the only islands where females outnumber males. There are 9,932 men in the Cook Islands and 9,367 women.
DESERT(ED) ISLANDS
Takutea (left) and Manuae (right) are uninhabited. Suwarrow has temporary residents - a caretaker and his wife who live there in the cyclone off-season between April and October (but that doesn't count for the census).
