Who are the People of the Cook Islands?

Last Updated: 16 June, 2025

A Quick Guide to the Cook Islands People

Hailing from Polynesian ancestry, the people of the Cook Islands have a proud Cook Islands Maori heritage, but they also bring a contemporary face to Polynesia. Discover the population, ethnicity, and where the people of the Cook Islands reside in this comprehensive guide to the Cook Islands’ population.

To learn about the cultural aspects of the local people, be sure to head over to A Traveller’s Guide to the Cook Islands Culture.

What Do You Call People From the Cook Islands?

Quite simply, a person from the Cook Islands and/or a citizen of the Cook Islands is called as a “Cook Islander”.

Many Cook Islanders will go a step further and refer to themselves in relation to the specific islands they are from, such as Rarotongan, Aitutakian, Mangaian, Atiuan, Pukapukan, etc.

In terms of ethnic groups, Cook Islanders are known as Cook Islands Māori, which is also the name of the main official language of the Cook Islands.

The Population of the Cook Islands

According to the 2021 census, the population of the Cook Islands is 14,987.

The ethnic makeup of the Cook Islands, according to the 2016 census, is made up of the following ethnic groups:

Cook Island Māori – 78.2%
Part-Māori – 7.62%
Other – 14.18%.

It’s worth noting that there are more Cook Islanders outside of the Cook Islands, particularly in New Zealand, with the New Zealand 2018 census stating 80,532 Cook Islanders or of Cook Islands descent. There are approximately 30,000 Cook Islanders residing in Australia.

For more interesting facts about the people of the Cook Islands, check out the 20 Fun Facts About Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

The Cook Islands’ Main Ethnic Groups

The Cook Islands’ population is primarily composed of one leading ethnic group, the Cook Islands Māori. The small minority of other ethnic groups in the Cook Islands reside on the islands mainly due to immigration.

What Ethnicity are Cook Islanders?

Cook Islanders, also known as Cook Islands Māori, are of Polynesian ancestry. The Southern Group Cook Islanders generally originated from Tahitian settlers and are closely related to the New Zealand Māori and the Tahitian Mā’ohi. Northern Group Cook Islanders trace their ancestry to settlers from Samoa and Tonga.

Learn more about the history of settlement in the Cook Islands in A Brief History of Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Where Do Cook Islanders Live?

Cook Islanders live across the Cook Islands, as well as overseas, particularly in New Zealand, with which the country is in free association.

Cook Islands Population per Island

The Cook Islands consist of 15 main islands, 12 of which are inhabited. Around 74.7% of the population lives on the largest island of the Cook Islands, Rarotonga.

The rest who reside in the Cook Islands are scattered across the other islands, in order of population:

Rarotonga – 74.7%
Aitutaki – 11%
Mangaia – 2.9%
Pukapuka – 2.5%
Atiu – 2.5%
Mauke – 1.7%
Penrhyn – 1.3%
Manihiki – 1.2%
Mitiaro – 0.9%
Rakahanga – 0.5%
Nassau – 0.5%
Palmerston – 0.3%

Cook Islands Town Population

While the population of Rarotonga’s urban centres is steadily growing, around 4,900 people live in the Avarua district. Most of the population lives in districts and sub-districts, or tribal lands, locally known as tapere. Learn more about the most populated in The 5 Biggest Towns & Villages in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.

Cook Islanders Overseas

Many Cook Islanders migrate overseas, particularly to New Zealand and Australia. More Cook Islanders are now living in New Zealand and Australia than there are in the Cook Islands.

The Cook Islander Lifestyle

To oversimplify, the Cook Islander lifestyle surrounds family and extended family. It is not unusual for children to live with grandparents, nieces, nephews and why locals often call fellow Cook Islanders “mamas”, “papas” and “aunties”. Hell, even you, as a visitor, might be called “aunty” or “uncle” by a local kid, but don’t worry; you haven’t just adopted a small child. Making you feel welcome is all part of the Cook Islander psyche.

Another aspect of the Cook Islander lifestyle is enjoying grand ceremonies, especially feasting. Many Cook Islanders travel overseas to work, adopting Western lifestyles. But when they come home, it’s usually to spend time relaxing with family in their little paradise. Industries in the Cook Islands, on the other hand, are primarily centred on tropical horticulture and tourism.

Of course, there’s a lot more to the Cook Islander lifestyle and psyche, so take a look at A Traveller’s Guide to the Cook Islands Culture to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions About the People of the Cook Islands

What are the questions most people have about the people of the Cook Islands? See if your own question is answered here!

The natives of the Cook Islands are Cook Islands Māori, indigenous Polynesians originating from French Polynesia and even Asia, depending on how far back you want to look!

Cook Islanders are the nationality of the Cook Islands.

Cook Islanders call themselves “Cook Islanders” or “Cook Islands Maori”. Many Cook Islanders will go a step further and refer to themselves in relation to the specific islands they are from, such as Rarotongan, Aitutakian, Mangaian, Atiuan, Pukapukan, etc.

The nationality of Rarotonga is Cook Islander, part of the country of the Cook Islands.

Rarotongans are from the ethnic group of the Cook Islands Maori.

The indeginous people of the Cook Islands derive from a Polynesian ethnic group called Cook Islands Māori.

Cook Islanders are closely related to New Zealand Māori, as many of the vaka (canoe) that first settled New Zealand came from the Cook Islands. There are, however, some subtle differences in the languages and culture of New Zealand and Cook Islands Māori.

]Learn more about the Cook Islands Māori culture in A Traveller’s Guide to the Cook Islands Culture.

More About the People of the Cook Islands

That’s it for our guide to the people of the Cook Islands. For more about the Cook Islands people, check out the following guides:

Finally, make the most of experiencing the culture when visiting by following the advice in How to Have an Authentic Cook Islander Experience.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across the Cook Islands and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Finance & Economic Management (Border restrictions advice - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Agriculture (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
Cook Islands Statistics Office (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
Ministry of Transport (Transport operators and licenses - Updated [2025])
SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2025])
Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for the Cook Islands - Updated [2025])

At Cook Islands Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About the Author

Laura S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Cook Islands Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as the Cook Islands. She knows the islands inside out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Raro’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also the editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.

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