Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Cook Islands instead of New Zealand, you would:

Health

live 5.4 years less

In New Zealand, the average life expectancy is 83 years (81 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022. In Cook Islands, that number is 77 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2022.

be 81.5% more likely to be obese

In New Zealand, 30.8% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Cook Islands, that number is 55.9% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 68.0% less money

New Zealand has a GDP per capita of $48,800 as of 2023, while in Cook Islands, the GDP per capita is $15,600 as of 2022.

be 3.5 times more likely to be unemployed

In New Zealand, 3.7% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Cook Islands, that number is 13.1% as of 2005.

Life

be 4.6 times more likely to die during infancy

In New Zealand, approximately 3.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Cook Islands, on the other hand, 15.9 children do as of 2022.

Basic Needs

be 32.5% less likely to have internet access

In New Zealand, approximately 96.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Cook Islands, about 64.8% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 23.3% less on education

New Zealand spends 6.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Cook Islands spends 4.6% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

spend 68.0% less on healthcare

New Zealand spends 10.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Cook Islands, that number is 3.2% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 99.2% less coastline

New Zealand has a total of 15,134 km of coastline. In Cook Islands, that number is 120 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Cook Islands: At a glance

Cook Islands is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 236 sq km. Named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965, residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems.
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How big is Cook Islands compared to New Zealand? See an in-depth size comparison.

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