If you lived in Cook Islands instead of United States, you would:

Health

live 1.8 years less

In United States, the average life expectancy is 79 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Cook Islands, that number is 77 years (74 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2022.

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be 76.7% more likely to be obese

In United States, 41.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Cook Islands, that number is 72.4% of people as of 2024.

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have 63.5% fewer doctors per person

United States has 36.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Cook Islands has 13.4 as of 2019.

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have 46.5% less access to essential health services

United States scores 86 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Cook Islands scores 46 as of 2021.

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Life

have 14.2% more children

In United States, there are approximately 10.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Cook Islands, there are 12.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 2.9 times more likely to die during infancy

In United States, approximately 5.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Cook Islands, on the other hand, 15.9 children do as of 2022.

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Basic Needs

be 31.6% less likely to have internet access

In United States, approximately 94.7% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Cook Islands, about 64.8% do as of 2021.

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Expenditures

spend 15.1% less on education

United States spends 5.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Cook Islands spends 4.6% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

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spend 80.8% less on healthcare

United States spends 16.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Cook Islands, that number is 3.2% of GDP as of 2020.

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Geography

see 99.4% less coastline

United States has a total of 19,924 km of coastline. In Cook Islands, that number is 120 km.

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Safety

be 23.9% more likely to die in a road accident

In United States, road accidents kill 14.2 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Cook Islands, they kill 17.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 53.1% less home broadband

United States has 38.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Cook Islands has 18.2 as of 2022.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2024), The World Factbook (2020–2024), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

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 United States? See an in-depth size comparison.

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