MigrantoCook Islands Diaspora
20.3K Cook Islands live abroad — the #179 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 100% of all emigrants
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 12403 |
| Australia | 7834 |
| Fiji | 33 |
| Dominican Republic | 9 |
| Samoa | 9 |
| Denmark | 0 |
| Greece | 0 |
By destination region
Oceania is the leading destination region at 100%
20.3K
9
0
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from the Cook Islands.
Australia is the primary destination for emigrants
Australia attracts 39% of all emigrants from the Cook Islands, while the second-largest destination receives just 0%.
Emigration destinations have diversified since 1990
The top destination's share fell from 87% to 61%, indicating a broader spread of emigration patterns.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 17630 |
| 1995 | 16916 |
| 2000 | 19708 |
| 2005 | 20294 |
| 2010 | 20294 |
| 2015 | 20558 |
| 2020 | 20134 |
| 2024 | 20288 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| Year | New Zealand | Australia | Fiji | Dominican Republic | Samoa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 15300 | 2280 | 30 | 9 | 6 |
| 1995 | 13963 | 2897 | 30 | 10 | 11 |
| 2000 | 15024 | 4621 | 30 | 11 | 17 |
| 2005 | 14766 | 5469 | 30 | 10 | 16 |
| 2010 | 13592 | 6647 | 32 | 9 | 14 |
| 2015 | 12457 | 8049 | 33 | 8 | 11 |
| 2020 | 12101 | 7984 | 32 | 8 | 9 |
| 2024 | 12403 | 7834 | 33 | 9 | 9 |
Fastest-changing destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Cook Islands move to?
Most Cook Islands have moved to New Zealand, Australia and Fiji — these three countries account for about 100% of all Cook Islands living abroad.
How many Cook Islands live abroad?
Around 20.3K Cook Islands live abroad, making it the #179-largest emigrant population in the world.
How has emigration from the Cook Islands changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from the Cook Islands has changed from 20.6K to 20.3K people, a change of about 1%.
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