The lure of Tarawa
p. 33 · Read in the full issue
The lure of the “bright lights” shows out in the latest GEIC census, which confirms a continued popula tion drift to Tarawa, even at a slightly reduced rate compared with the 1968 census, and a corresponding depopu lation of some of the outer islands.
The census gave the colony a popula tion of 57,960, compared with 53,517 at the 1968 census.
The Gilberts had a population of 47,922 in the latest census, compared with 44,296 in 1968; the Ellice Islands had 5,890, compared with 5,782, the Line Islands 1,468 com pared with 1,180, and ships 374 com pared with 157.
Tarawa’s population at the latest census was 17,188, against 12,642.
The breakdown of the Tarawa figures, with those for 1968 in brackets, is: Rural, 2,275 (2,026); urban, 8,501 (6,025); Tarawa Betio, 6,412 (4,591).
Following Tarawa, the next biggest island populations were, again with the 1968 figures in brackets: Abaiang, 3,282 (3,271 ); Butaritari, 2,973 (2,714); Tabiteuea North, 2,884 (3,303); Bern, 2,418 (2,412); Abe mama, 2,303 (2,126); Marakei, 2,223 (2,180); Nonouti, 2,223 (2,408). The biggest population drop on a per centage basis was on Maiana, down 17.4 per cent —from 1,710 in 1968 to 1,412.
In the Ellice Islands Nanumea still has the biggest population, 977 (down 9.2 per cent from the 1,076 in 1968).
Other Ellice islands with populations of more than 900 were Vaitapu 948 (876 in 1968) and Niutao 908 (796 in 1968).
The population comprises 28,531 men (26,404 in 1968) and 29,429 women (27,113 in 1968).