Resident population is currently estimated at 12,000 for December quarter 2009, a drop of 8.4% compared to last quarter. The biggest
factor affecting this drop is the large number of Cook Island Residents travelling overseas for holidays, meeting families and friends,
business reasons and others. Total population is estimated to be 24,400 showing an increase of 1.7%. This is the normal trend in
the December quarter.
There were 68 births registered in this quarter, an average of 6 births per week. This is 6.3% more when compared to the previous quarter.
Crude birth rate was 5.7 for this quarter, approximately 6 children born to every thousand population.
Total deaths for this quarter decreased by 54.5% when compared to last quarter, giving an average of 3 deaths per month. The quarterly
crude death rate (number of deaths per 1,000 population) stood at 0.8, approximately 1 death to every thousand population. There were
no Infant deaths registered in this quarter.
Number of marriages officiated for this quarter was 204, an increase of 34.2% when compared to December quarter 2008. Ninety percent
of these marriages were non residents. Cook Islands has been marketed as a South Seas wedding and honeymoon destination.
