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Based on the census, the FSM population is declining – for the first time in recorded history. Based on a recently released report, Summary Analysis Of Key Indicators from the FSM 2010 Census of Population and Housing, the FSM population, as of April 4, 2010, stood at 103 thousand as compared to 107 thousand in 2000.
According to the FSM Statistician, Mathew Chigiyal, “the declining population is primarily due to the massive migration out of the country; declining fertility also played a role but this is linked to the out migration of young women.” The Summary Analysis of Key Indicators from the FSM 2010 Census of Population and Housing illustrated that there are 4% less women of child bearing age today than ten years ago.
The 2010 FSM Census of Population and Housing shows: Family size. The average family size declined from 7 in 2000 to 4 in 2010, indicating a preference for smaller families by couples in FSM. This also reflects on the fertility decline as well as young people delaying their first marriage.
Educational attainment. The census educational attainment (level of school completed for population aged 25 years and over) data showed some positive improvements: there is declining trend of “no schooling” (from 22.8 percent in 1994 to 8.1 percent in 2010); and also good progress in graduating from elementary (about 73 percent graduated elementary, increasing from the 60 percent in 1994).
However, the data also show some important features needing immediate attention: there is almost no progress in attaining of high school education (36.1 percent in 1994 to 36.2 percent in 2010); and very slow progress in attaining of A.A. Degree level of education (10.7 percent in 2000 to 11.8 percent in 2010).
Labor force. The working age population, defined as people aged 15 years and older, accounted for 66,146 people representing an increase of 2,310 people (3.6 percent) since the last census in 2000. The actual labor force comprised of 37,919 people (22,076 males, 15,843 females); this represents a national labor force participation rate of 57.3 percent, with values of 66.1 percent for males and 48.4 percent for females. Of this group, 31,789 people had considered themselves as employed, while 6,130 reporting to be unemployed, revealing an unemployment rate of 16.2 percent for FSM (15.5 percent for males, 17.0 percent for females).
While the size of the labor force remains relatively the same, the number of people who are employed moderately increased. One of the main contributing factors to this positive improvement in employment is increasing participation in the informal sector (subsistence).
The FSM 2010 Census of Population and Housing Project is in its final phase – dissemination and communication of the census results. Upcoming outputs and activities include: the Census Analysis Report and communicating of results via (user) workshop. The tentative scheduled for release of the National Census Analysis Report is late 2012 or early 2013.
The Office of SBOC is also conducting the FSM 2012 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) later this year. This survey will provide a snapshot of the standard of living in the FSM with quality baseline social and economic data.
To download the summary analysis click here.
In addition to the summary analysis report, basic tabulations of the census results (data tables without analytical text) are also available for interested users upon request.
For inquiries regarding this release, contact: Mr. Mathew Chigiyal, Assistant Director for Statistics, Office of SBOC, Phone: (691) 320-2823/2824, Emails: mchigiyal@sboc.fm or fsmstat@sboc.fm |