The Samoa 2011 Preliminary Census Count details by villages and faipule districts, and by sex (186,340 people) are now available here.

The Tonga 2011 Preliminary Census count is complete (103,036 people), and the media release is available here.

The Tokelau 2011 Census Final Count details (1,411 people) are available here.

(Statistics for Development Programme article published in Islands Business magazine, June 2011)

In June 2011 the population of the Pacific Islands is expected to reach a major milestone – 10 million.

This number is expected to continue its upward march, reaching 15 million by 2035, although there is considerable variety across the region, with some countries and territories even shrinking in population. The growth rate means that another 188,000 people – equivalent to the population of Samoa – are being added to the total each year.

It also means increased demand on already stretched transport, energy, health and education infrastructure, not to mention food and water supply, employment opportunities and housing. According to data provided to the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) by its 22 island members, the region’s population has climbed steadily, totalling four million in 1970, six million in 1990, and eight million in 2000 (Figure 1). Detailed population information is available here, or on PRISM (Pacific Regional Information System) website at: www.spc.int/prism

Figure 1. Total Population of Pacific Island countries and territories, 1970-2050