DOC releases official estimate of territory’s population
As of July 1, 2007, the official estimate of American Samoa’s population was 68,200. According to the Statistics Division of the ASG Department of Commerce, the territory’s population estimates have increased steadily by an average of about 1,500 people each year in the years following the 2000 census, with the exception of 2007.
This is due largely to the big drop in local births which was down by nearly 300 this year compared to last year. In the past ten years, according to DOC, “total births have dropped, perhaps due to the successful family planning programs and active participation in the labor force.”
The decrease in the number of births is accompanied by a death rate which has remained below 300 a year.
The American Samoa Census 2000 which was released by the United States Bureau of the Census counted 57,291 persons living in American Samoa, which was much lower than what was estimated. However, the local population is considered one of the fastest growing ones in the Pacific Region.
The growth can be attributed to the natural growth of the resident population (births minus deaths) with the assumed balance migration.
According to the DOC, “The historical migration trend from arrival/departure statistics proves invalid due to the absence of detailed immigration travel data. However, Port Administration data on deplanes and enplanes provides a secondary dataset for trend movements and analysis.”
The DOC reports that recent immigration data shows numerous American Samoa nationals are migrating to the US mainland. Between 2005-2006, approximately 3,600 local residents moved off island for various reasons that included military service, education, or better opportunities.
But the out-movement is replaced with the 3,200 people visiting families, friends, and relatives who have remained in the territory.
The Annual Population Growth Rate is 2 percent.
The population growth has slowed down in the past ten years as the number of newborns has dropped below the 1,500 mark.
“The continuous drop in the number of newborns and the drop in growth rate are indications of declined fertility as more women take on an active role in the local economy and/or move off-island for continuous education and military services,” the DOC reported.
Vital statistics data is considered fairly complete. Natural growth is now at an estimated 1,200 while the territory’s Crude Birth Rate (CBR) stands at 21.6 per 1,000 population.
The Crude Death Rate (CDR) is 4.0 per 1,000 population.
The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is at 11.8 per 1,000 live births while the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) is 6.2 per 1,000 live births.
Crude Birth Rates have dropped from around 40 per 1,000 population into the nineties to most recently 22 per 1,000 population.
The following is a list of the population estimates since the beginning of the new millennium.
2007 – 68,200
2006 – 66,900
2005 – 65,500
2004 – 64,100
2003 – 62,600
2002 – 60,800
2001 – 59,400
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