2021 Census of Population and Dwellings

The Census of Population and Dwellings is a five yearly stock take of people in the Cook Islands and their housing. It is the primary source of information on the size, composition, distribution, economic activities and state of well being of the population. 

The Census of Population and Dwellings 2021 was conducted under the authority of the Statistics Act 2016. The 2021 Census was also done in collaboration with the Agriculture and Fisheries Census. A project that is done once every 10 years. The particular provisions relating to this census is set out in sections 18 and 19 of the Act. Other sections of the Act that apply are the secrecy provisions that provide against the release or publication of any individual particulars. 

Describing the total population of a country and its geographical distribution within the country are common and essential elements of all censuses. However, the definition of what constitutes the population of an area varies from country to country and largely depends on the requirements of users. The total population may be defined to include or exclude foreigners in the country and its own nationals in other countries. It may or may not include certain population groups within the country.

2021 Census Full Report and section tables are now available for download below: