diff --git a/cpp/src/parquet/metadata.cc b/cpp/src/parquet/metadata.cc
index 46cd1e442461..2b901b39de58 100644
--- a/cpp/src/parquet/metadata.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/parquet/metadata.cc
@@ -90,40 +90,64 @@ std::string ParquetVersionToString(ParquetVersion::type ver) {
   return "UNKNOWN";
 }
 
+namespace {
+
+StatisticsMinMaxField GetStatisticsMinMaxField(const ColumnDescriptor& descr) {
+  switch (descr.column_order().get_order()) {
+    case ColumnOrder::TYPE_DEFINED_ORDER:
+      return descr.sort_order() != SortOrder::UNKNOWN
+                 ? StatisticsMinMaxField::kMinValueMaxValue
+                 : StatisticsMinMaxField::kInvalid;
+    case ColumnOrder::UNDEFINED:
+      return descr.sort_order() == SortOrder::SIGNED
+                 ? StatisticsMinMaxField::kLegacyMinMax
+                 : StatisticsMinMaxField::kInvalid;
+    case ColumnOrder::UNKNOWN:
+      return StatisticsMinMaxField::kInvalid;
+  }
+  return StatisticsMinMaxField::kInvalid;
+}
+
 template <typename DType>
-static std::shared_ptr<Statistics> MakeTypedColumnStats(
-    const format::ColumnMetaData& metadata, const ColumnDescriptor* descr,
-    ::arrow::MemoryPool* pool) {
-  std::optional<bool> min_exact =
-      metadata.statistics.__isset.is_min_value_exact
-          ? std::optional<bool>(metadata.statistics.is_min_value_exact)
-          : std::nullopt;
-  std::optional<bool> max_exact =
-      metadata.statistics.__isset.is_max_value_exact
-          ? std::optional<bool>(metadata.statistics.is_max_value_exact)
-          : std::nullopt;
-  // If ColumnOrder is defined, return max_value and min_value
-  if (descr->column_order().get_order() == ColumnOrder::TYPE_DEFINED_ORDER) {
-    return MakeStatistics<DType>(
-        descr, metadata.statistics.min_value, metadata.statistics.max_value,
-        metadata.num_values - metadata.statistics.null_count,
-        metadata.statistics.null_count, metadata.statistics.distinct_count,
-        metadata.statistics.__isset.max_value && metadata.statistics.__isset.min_value,
-        metadata.statistics.__isset.null_count,
-        metadata.statistics.__isset.distinct_count, min_exact, max_exact, pool);
-  }
-  // Default behavior
+std::shared_ptr<Statistics> MakeTypedColumnStats(const format::ColumnMetaData& metadata,
+                                                 const ColumnDescriptor* descr,
+                                                 ::arrow::MemoryPool* pool) {
+  const auto& statistics = metadata.statistics;
+  const std::string kEmpty = "";
+  const std::string* encoded_min = &kEmpty;
+  const std::string* encoded_max = &kEmpty;
+  bool has_min_max = false;
+  std::optional<bool> min_exact = std::nullopt;
+  std::optional<bool> max_exact = std::nullopt;
+
+  switch (GetStatisticsMinMaxField(*descr)) {
+    case StatisticsMinMaxField::kMinValueMaxValue:
+      encoded_min = &statistics.min_value;
+      encoded_max = &statistics.max_value;
+      has_min_max = statistics.__isset.max_value && statistics.__isset.min_value;
+      min_exact = statistics.__isset.is_min_value_exact
+                      ? std::optional<bool>(statistics.is_min_value_exact)
+                      : std::nullopt;
+      max_exact = statistics.__isset.is_max_value_exact
+                      ? std::optional<bool>(statistics.is_max_value_exact)
+                      : std::nullopt;
+      break;
+    case StatisticsMinMaxField::kLegacyMinMax:
+      encoded_min = &statistics.min;
+      encoded_max = &statistics.max;
+      has_min_max = statistics.__isset.max && statistics.__isset.min;
+      break;
+    case StatisticsMinMaxField::kInvalid:
+      break;
+  }
+
   return MakeStatistics<DType>(
-      descr, metadata.statistics.min, metadata.statistics.max,
-      metadata.num_values - metadata.statistics.null_count,
-      metadata.statistics.null_count, metadata.statistics.distinct_count,
-      metadata.statistics.__isset.max && metadata.statistics.__isset.min,
-      metadata.statistics.__isset.null_count, metadata.statistics.__isset.distinct_count,
-      min_exact, max_exact, pool);
+      descr, *encoded_min, *encoded_max, metadata.num_values - statistics.null_count,
+      statistics.null_count, statistics.distinct_count, has_min_max,
+      statistics.__isset.null_count, statistics.__isset.distinct_count, min_exact,
+      max_exact, pool);
 }
 
-namespace {
-
 std::shared_ptr<geospatial::GeoStatistics> MakeColumnGeometryStats(
     const format::ColumnMetaData& metadata, const ColumnDescriptor* descr) {
   if (metadata.__isset.geospatial_statistics) {
@@ -336,12 +360,8 @@ class ColumnChunkMetaData::ColumnChunkMetaDataImpl {
     {
       const std::lock_guard<std::mutex> guard(stats_mutex_);
       if (possible_encoded_stats_ == nullptr) {
-        possible_encoded_stats_ =
-            std::make_shared<EncodedStatistics>(FromThrift(column_metadata_->statistics));
-        if (descr_->sort_order() == SortOrder::UNKNOWN) {
-          // If the column SortOrder is Unknown we can't trust max/min.
-          possible_encoded_stats_->ClearMinMax();
-        }
+        possible_encoded_stats_ = std::make_shared<EncodedStatistics>(
+            FromThrift(column_metadata_->statistics, GetStatisticsMinMaxField(*descr_)));
       }
     }
     return writer_version_->HasCorrectStatistics(type(), *possible_encoded_stats_,
@@ -1037,7 +1057,7 @@ class FileMetaData::FileMetaDataImpl {
         if (column_order.__isset.TYPE_ORDER) {
           column_orders.push_back(ColumnOrder::type_defined_);
         } else {
-          column_orders.push_back(ColumnOrder::undefined_);
+          column_orders.push_back(ColumnOrder::unknown_);
         }
       }
     } else {
diff --git a/cpp/src/parquet/metadata_test.cc b/cpp/src/parquet/metadata_test.cc
index 572f053179cd..ac45be1fac38 100644
--- a/cpp/src/parquet/metadata_test.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/parquet/metadata_test.cc
@@ -275,6 +275,104 @@ TEST(Metadata, TestBuildAccess) {
   ASSERT_TRUE(f_accessor_1->Equals(*f_accessor->Subset({2, 0})));
 }
 
+namespace {
+
+std::string EncodeInt32(int32_t value) {
+  return std::string(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&value), sizeof(value));
+}
+
+constexpr int32_t kLegacyMin = 100, kLegacyMax = 200;
+
+std::string SerializeMetadata(const format::FileMetaData& thrift_metadata) {
+  std::string out;
+  ThriftSerializer{}.SerializeToString(&thrift_metadata, &out);
+  return out;
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<FileMetaData> ParseMetadata(std::string serialized_metadata) {
+  uint32_t decoded_len = static_cast<uint32_t>(serialized_metadata.size());
+  return FileMetaData::Make(serialized_metadata.data(), &decoded_len);
+}
+
+format::FileMetaData SingleInt32MetadataWithStats() {
+  format::FileMetaData metadata;
+  format::SchemaElement root, leaf;
+  schema::NodeVector fields = {schema::Int32("int_col", Repetition::REQUIRED)};
+  schema::GroupNode::Make("schema", Repetition::REPEATED, fields)->ToParquet(&root);
+  fields.back()->ToParquet(&leaf);
+  metadata.schema = {std::move(root), std::move(leaf)};
+
+  auto& column = metadata.row_groups.emplace_back().columns.emplace_back();
+  column.__isset.meta_data = true;
+  auto& column_metadata = column.meta_data;
+  column_metadata.__set_type(format::Type::INT32);
+  column_metadata.__isset.statistics = true;
+  auto& statistics = column_metadata.statistics;
+  statistics.__set_min(EncodeInt32(kLegacyMin));
+  statistics.__set_max(EncodeInt32(kLegacyMax));
+  statistics.__set_min_value(EncodeInt32(kLegacyMin));
+  statistics.__set_max_value(EncodeInt32(kLegacyMax));
+  metadata.column_orders.emplace_back().__set_TYPE_ORDER(format::TypeDefinedOrder{});
+  metadata.__isset.column_orders = true;
+  return metadata;
+}
+
+std::unique_ptr<ColumnChunkMetaData> GetOnlyColumnChunk(
+    const FileMetaData& metadata, ColumnOrder::type expected_order) {
+  EXPECT_EQ(expected_order, metadata.schema()->Column(0)->column_order().get_order());
+  return metadata.RowGroup(0)->ColumnChunk(0);
+}
+
+void AssertColumnChunkHasNoMinMax(const FileMetaData& metadata,
+                                  ColumnOrder::type expected_order) {
+  auto column = GetOnlyColumnChunk(metadata, expected_order);
+  ASSERT_NE(nullptr, column->encoded_statistics());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(column->encoded_statistics()->has_min);
+  EXPECT_FALSE(column->encoded_statistics()->has_max);
+  ASSERT_NE(nullptr, column->statistics());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(column->statistics()->HasMinMax());
+}
+
+void AssertColumnChunkMinMax(const FileMetaData& metadata,
+                             ColumnOrder::type expected_order, int32_t min, int32_t max) {
+  auto column = GetOnlyColumnChunk(metadata, expected_order);
+  const std::string encoded_min = EncodeInt32(min);
+  const std::string encoded_max = EncodeInt32(max);
+
+  ASSERT_NE(nullptr, column->encoded_statistics());
+  EXPECT_EQ(encoded_min, column->encoded_statistics()->min());
+  EXPECT_EQ(encoded_max, column->encoded_statistics()->max());
+  ASSERT_NE(nullptr, column->statistics());
+  EXPECT_EQ(encoded_min, column->statistics()->EncodeMin());
+  EXPECT_EQ(encoded_max, column->statistics()->EncodeMax());
+}
+
+}  // namespace
+
+TEST(Metadata, UnknownColumnOrderIgnoresMinMax) {
+  format::FileMetaData thrift_metadata = SingleInt32MetadataWithStats();
+  // Simulate an unsupported ColumnOrder value: unknown union fields are skipped by
+  // Thrift, leaving an entry with no known field set.
+  thrift_metadata.column_orders.clear();
+  thrift_metadata.column_orders.emplace_back();
+  thrift_metadata.__isset.column_orders = true;
+
+  auto metadata = ParseMetadata(SerializeMetadata(thrift_metadata));
+  AssertColumnChunkHasNoMinMax(*metadata, ColumnOrder::UNKNOWN);
+}
+
+TEST(Metadata, MissingColumnOrderUsesLegacyMinMax) {
+  format::FileMetaData thrift_metadata = SingleInt32MetadataWithStats();
+  thrift_metadata.column_orders.clear();
+  thrift_metadata.__isset.column_orders = false;
+  auto& statistics = thrift_metadata.row_groups.at(0).columns.at(0).meta_data.statistics;
+  statistics.__set_min_value(EncodeInt32(kLegacyMin - 100));
+  statistics.__set_max_value(EncodeInt32(kLegacyMax + 100));
+
+  auto metadata = ParseMetadata(SerializeMetadata(thrift_metadata));
+  AssertColumnChunkMinMax(*metadata, ColumnOrder::UNDEFINED, kLegacyMin, kLegacyMax);
+}
+
 TEST(Metadata, TestV1Version) {
   // PARQUET-839
   parquet::schema::NodeVector fields;
diff --git a/cpp/src/parquet/schema.h b/cpp/src/parquet/schema.h
index 1addc73bd367..52c6b5544e32 100644
--- a/cpp/src/parquet/schema.h
+++ b/cpp/src/parquet/schema.h
@@ -382,6 +382,19 @@ class PARQUET_EXPORT ColumnDescriptor {
     return la ? GetSortOrder(la, pt) : GetSortOrder(converted_type(), pt);
   }
 
+  // Whether ColumnOrder-governed min/max values have a supported ordering.
+  bool can_use_stats() const {
+    switch (column_order().get_order()) {
+      case ColumnOrder::TYPE_DEFINED_ORDER:
+        return sort_order() != SortOrder::UNKNOWN;
+      case ColumnOrder::UNDEFINED:
+        return sort_order() == SortOrder::SIGNED;
+      case ColumnOrder::UNKNOWN:
+        return false;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
   const std::string& name() const { return primitive_node_->name(); }
 
   const std::shared_ptr<schema::ColumnPath> path() const;
diff --git a/cpp/src/parquet/schema_test.cc b/cpp/src/parquet/schema_test.cc
index 2950a7df70f8..425f34ff61db 100644
--- a/cpp/src/parquet/schema_test.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/parquet/schema_test.cc
@@ -660,6 +660,32 @@ TEST(TestColumnDescriptor, TestAttrs) {
   ASSERT_EQ(expected_descr, descr2.ToString());
 }
 
+TEST(TestColumnDescriptor, CanUseStats) {
+  NodePtr node = Int32("name");
+  ColumnDescriptor descr(node, 0, 0);
+  // Type-defined column order is usable when the type has a known sort order.
+  EXPECT_TRUE(descr.can_use_stats());
+
+  auto primitive_node = std::static_pointer_cast<PrimitiveNode>(node);
+  primitive_node->SetColumnOrder(ColumnOrder::undefined_);
+  // Missing column order falls back to legacy min/max, which are signed.
+  EXPECT_TRUE(ColumnDescriptor(node, 0, 0).can_use_stats());
+
+  primitive_node->SetColumnOrder(ColumnOrder::unknown_);
+  // Unsupported column order means min/max ordering is unknown to this reader.
+  EXPECT_FALSE(ColumnDescriptor(node, 0, 0).can_use_stats());
+
+  node = PrimitiveNode::Make("name", Repetition::REQUIRED, Type::BYTE_ARRAY);
+  primitive_node = std::static_pointer_cast<PrimitiveNode>(node);
+  primitive_node->SetColumnOrder(ColumnOrder::undefined_);
+  // Legacy min/max are signed, so they cannot represent unsigned byte ordering.
+  EXPECT_FALSE(ColumnDescriptor(node, 0, 0).can_use_stats());
+
+  node = PrimitiveNode::Make("name", Repetition::REQUIRED, Type::INT96);
+  // INT96 has no defined sort order in the Parquet type-defined ordering.
+  EXPECT_FALSE(ColumnDescriptor(node, 0, 0).can_use_stats());
+}
+
 class TestSchemaDescriptor : public ::testing::Test {
  public:
   void setUp() {}
diff --git a/cpp/src/parquet/statistics_test.cc b/cpp/src/parquet/statistics_test.cc
index 905502cb0a57..0d300b856c2f 100644
--- a/cpp/src/parquet/statistics_test.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/parquet/statistics_test.cc
@@ -1660,6 +1660,13 @@ TEST(TestStatisticsSortOrder, UNKNOWN) {
   ASSERT_EQ(1, enc_stats->null_count);
   ASSERT_FALSE(enc_stats->is_max_value_exact.has_value());
   ASSERT_FALSE(enc_stats->is_min_value_exact.has_value());
+
+  // Unknown sort order should not cause min/max to be set
+  std::shared_ptr<Statistics> stats = column_chunk->statistics();
+  ASSERT_NE(nullptr, stats);
+  ASSERT_FALSE(stats->HasMinMax());
+  ASSERT_TRUE(stats->HasNullCount());
+  ASSERT_EQ(1, stats->null_count());
 }
 
 // Test statistics for binary column with UNSIGNED sort order
diff --git a/cpp/src/parquet/thrift_internal.h b/cpp/src/parquet/thrift_internal.h
index 5d14ae4e289c..e6d69308edb7 100644
--- a/cpp/src/parquet/thrift_internal.h
+++ b/cpp/src/parquet/thrift_internal.h
@@ -252,12 +252,21 @@ static inline AadMetadata FromThrift(format::AesGcmCtrV1 aesGcmCtrV1) {
                      aesGcmCtrV1.supply_aad_prefix};
 }
 
-static inline EncodedStatistics FromThrift(const format::Statistics& stats) {
+// Selects which thrift Statistics min/max fields should populate EncodedStatistics.
+enum class StatisticsMinMaxField {
+  // Do not populate min/max, because the ordering is undefined or unsupported.
+  kInvalid,
+  // Populate min/max from the min_value/max_value fields.
+  kMinValueMaxValue,
+  // Populate min/max from the legacy min/max fields.
+  kLegacyMinMax,
+};
+
+static inline EncodedStatistics FromThrift(const format::Statistics& stats,
+                                           StatisticsMinMaxField min_max) {
   EncodedStatistics out;
 
-  // Use the new V2 min-max statistics over the former one if it is filled
-  if (stats.__isset.max_value || stats.__isset.min_value) {
-    // TODO: check if the column_order is TYPE_DEFINED_ORDER.
+  if (min_max == StatisticsMinMaxField::kMinValueMaxValue) {
     if (stats.__isset.max_value) {
       out.set_max(stats.max_value);
       if (stats.__isset.is_max_value_exact) {
@@ -270,9 +279,7 @@ static inline EncodedStatistics FromThrift(const format::Statistics& stats) {
         out.is_min_value_exact = stats.is_min_value_exact;
       }
     }
-  } else if (stats.__isset.max || stats.__isset.min) {
-    // TODO: check created_by to see if it is corrupted for some types.
-    // TODO: check if the sort_order is SIGNED.
+  } else if (min_max == StatisticsMinMaxField::kLegacyMinMax) {
     if (stats.__isset.max) {
       out.set_max(stats.max);
     }
@@ -290,6 +297,14 @@ static inline EncodedStatistics FromThrift(const format::Statistics& stats) {
   return out;
 }
 
+static inline EncodedStatistics FromThrift(const format::Statistics& stats) {
+  // Use the new V2 min-max statistics over the former one if it is filled.
+  if (stats.__isset.max_value || stats.__isset.min_value) {
+    return FromThrift(stats, StatisticsMinMaxField::kMinValueMaxValue);
+  }
+  return FromThrift(stats, StatisticsMinMaxField::kLegacyMinMax);
+}
+
 static inline geospatial::EncodedGeoStatistics FromThrift(
     const format::GeospatialStatistics& geo_stats) {
   geospatial::EncodedGeoStatistics out;
diff --git a/cpp/src/parquet/types.cc b/cpp/src/parquet/types.cc
index fb4eb92a7544..ff5bd4eafb90 100644
--- a/cpp/src/parquet/types.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/parquet/types.cc
@@ -444,6 +444,7 @@ SortOrder::type GetSortOrder(const std::shared_ptr<const LogicalType>& logical_t
 
 ColumnOrder ColumnOrder::undefined_ = ColumnOrder(ColumnOrder::UNDEFINED);
 ColumnOrder ColumnOrder::type_defined_ = ColumnOrder(ColumnOrder::TYPE_DEFINED_ORDER);
+ColumnOrder ColumnOrder::unknown_ = ColumnOrder(ColumnOrder::UNKNOWN);
 
 // Static methods for LogicalType class
 
diff --git a/cpp/src/parquet/types.h b/cpp/src/parquet/types.h
index ad4df5119e75..846a6cfaf9ce 100644
--- a/cpp/src/parquet/types.h
+++ b/cpp/src/parquet/types.h
@@ -599,7 +599,14 @@ bool PageCanUseChecksum(PageType::type pageType);
 
 class ColumnOrder {
  public:
-  enum type { UNDEFINED, TYPE_DEFINED_ORDER };
+  enum type {
+    // File metadata has no column order, only legacy min/max in stats are defined.
+    UNDEFINED,
+    // File metadata uses TypeDefinedOrder from the Parquet format.
+    TYPE_DEFINED_ORDER,
+    // Column order value unsupported by this reader.
+    UNKNOWN
+  };
   explicit ColumnOrder(ColumnOrder::type column_order) : column_order_(column_order) {}
   // Default to Type Defined Order
   ColumnOrder() : column_order_(type::TYPE_DEFINED_ORDER) {}
@@ -607,6 +614,7 @@ class ColumnOrder {
 
   static ColumnOrder undefined_;
   static ColumnOrder type_defined_;
+  static ColumnOrder unknown_;
 
  private:
   ColumnOrder::type column_order_;