Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Cook Islands instead of California, you would:

Health

live 1.9 years less

In California, the average life expectancy is 79 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2020. In Cook Islands, that number is 77 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

make 81.4% less money

California has a GDP per capita of $84,028 as of 2024, while in Cook Islands, the GDP per capita is $15,600 as of 2022.

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Basic Needs

be 30.0% less likely to have internet access

In California, approximately 92.6% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Cook Islands, about 64.8% do as of 2021.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Economic Analysis, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), The World Factbook.

Compare further: California vs. Cook Islands

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Cook Islands is 31.2% cheaper than California
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Size Comparison · See true size
California is about 1,711 times bigger than Cook Islands.
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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 California? See an in-depth size comparison.

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