Fiji’s Population
p. 18 · Read in the full issue
Problem Further Indian Gains
Estimates of the population of Fiji, as on December 31, in the last two years, show the follow ing:
There were 6,650 Indian births, giving a birth rate of 44.69 per thousand. There were 4,983 Fijian births, or 36.67 per thousand. There were 2,004 Fijian deaths (a rate of 14.75 per thousand) and 1,325 Indian deaths (a rate of 8.9 per thousand).
EDITORIAL NOTE —Despite all the talk, the speed at which the Indians are increasing their num bers, over the total of all other communities, is the outstanding sociological fact in Fiji. The fol lowing figures are from official re cords:
Two or three years have passed since the then Governor of Fiji told the Indians bluntly that, if a population problem of first import ance was to be avoided, the natural increase of the Indians must fall.
Since then, the rate has fallen by 2 per thousand.
• 1951 1952 Fijians .. ,. 132,889 135,887 Indians . . 143,332 148,882 Europeans .. 6,227 7,980 Part-Europ. 7,083 7,298 Chinese .. .. 3,581 3,719 Islanders 4,400 4,498 Totals . .. 301,959 312,678
Birthrate Deathrate per thou. per thou.
Fijians, 1931 .. 35.3 22.2 Indians, 1931 .. 33.4 10.1 Fijians, 1937 . . 34.4 21.3 Indians, 1937 .. 37.5 10.0 Fijians, 1948 .. 36.3 14.5 Indians, 1948 .. 46.3 9.0 Fijians, 1952 .. 36.6 14.7 Indians, 1952 .. 44.6 8,9