MigrantoCook Islands Diaspora
20.3K Cook Islands live abroad — 0% of the population of the Cook Islands
Cook Islands diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 100% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 12403 |
| Australia | 7834 |
| Fiji | 33 |
| Dominican Republic | 9 |
| Samoa | 9 |
| Denmark | 0 |
| Greece | 0 |
By region
100% of the diaspora lives in Oceania
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Key facts
The Cook Islands diaspora in numbers
Most Cook Islands abroad live in Australia
39% of the diaspora lives in Australia, while the next country accounts for just 0%.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 87% to 61%.
Cook Islands diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 17630 |
| 1995 | 16916 |
| 2000 | 19708 |
| 2005 | 20294 |
| 2010 | 20294 |
| 2015 | 20558 |
| 2020 | 20134 |
| 2024 | 20288 |
Largest communities over time
Cook Islands living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| 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 communities
How the number of Cook Islands in each country has changed since the selected year
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Cook Islands live outside Cook Islands?
Around 20.3K Cook Islands live abroad, the world's #179 largest diaspora.
Where do most Cook Islands abroad live?
Most Cook Islands live in New Zealand, Australia and Fiji — these three countries account for about 100% of all Cook Islands living abroad.
Which country has the largest Cook Islands population outside Cook Islands?
New Zealand is home to the largest Cook Islands community abroad — 12.4K people, about 61% of all Cook Islands living abroad.
Is the Cook Islands diaspora growing?
Barely — over the past decade, the number of Cook Islands living abroad has changed from 20.6K to 20.3K, about 1%.
Where does the data on the Cook Islands diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in the Cook Islands who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
Where to live?
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Living in the Cook Islands
See the full country overview