Editing Rarotonga (section)

==Demographics and settlements==
{{Historical populations
|1906 |2441
|1916 |3064
|1926 |3936
|1936 |5054
|1945 |5573
|1951 |6048
|1961 |8676
|1966 |9971
|1971 |11478
|1976 |9802
|1981 |9530
|1986 |9826
|1996 |11225
|2001 |12188
|2006 |13890
|2011 |13095
|2016 |13007
|footnote=Source:<ref name="Census2016">{{cite web |url=http://www.mfem.gov.ck/images/documents/Statistics_Docs/5.Census-Surveys/6.Population-and-Dwelling_2016/2016_CENSUS_REPORT-FINAL.pdf |title=Cook Islands 2016 Census Main Report |date=2018 |access-date=10 July 2021 |publisher=Cook Islands Statistical Office}}</ref>
}}
[[File:Rarotonga english version.png|thumb|Tribal districts (''vaka'') of Rarotonga]]
[[File:Rarotaperedistrict.png|thumb|Land districts and [[tapere]] of Rarotonga]]

The population of Rarotonga was 13007 in 2016.<ref name="Census2016"/>

The island is traditionally divided into three tribal districts or ''vaka''. Te Au O Tonga on the northern side of the island ([[Avarua]] is the capital), [[Tākitimu|Takitumu]] on the eastern and southern side and Puaikura on the western side. For administrative purposes it is divided into five Land Districts. The Land District of [[Avarua]] is represented under vaka Te Au O Tonga, the Land Districts of [[Matavera]], [[Ngatangiia]] and [[Titikaveka]] are represented under vaka Takitumu and the Land District [[Arorangi]] is represented under vaka Puaikura. The districts are subdivided into 54 [[tapere]] (traditional sub-districts).

In 2008, the three vaka councils of Rarotonga were abolished.<ref>{{cite web| title=Cook Islands govt abolishes Rarotonga Vaka councils |date=2007 |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/173220/cook-islands-govt-abolishes-rarotonga-vaka-councils |access-date=1 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Statoids: Cook Islands |url=http://www.statoids.com/uck.html|access-date=1 September 2015}}</ref>