Number of NMI housing units increased

While the CNMI’s population declined by 22 percent, the number of its housing units went up by almost 19 percent in a 10-year period, based on the latest data that the U.S. Census Bureau rolled out for the Commonwealth on Friday.

The CNMI’s housing units numbered 20,850 in 2010 when the population was only 53,883. In the previous census in 2000, there were 17,566 housing units for a population that numbered 69,221.

The islands’ population count shrunk during the 10-year period mainly because of the decline in the number of foreign workers as a result of a slower economy that forced businesses to shut down or cut operations.

The Census Bureau’s latest figures also break down the data by municipality and village.

Of the 20,850 housing units, 18,683 are on Saipan, 1,118 are on Tinian and 1,049 are on Rota.

Garapan has the largest number of housing units on Saipan and throughout the whole CNMI with almost 2,000. Census data shows 1,974 housing units in Garapan in 2010.

The other Saipan villages with the most number of housing units are Fina Sisu with 1,058, Dandan with 1,003, San Vicente with 807, Kagman III and Susupe with 760 each, and Gualo Rai with 759.

On Rota, most of the housing units are in Sinapalo with 465 and Songsong with 291.

On Tinian, San Jose has the most number of housing units at 652.

In terms of population count, Saipan’s Garapan, Dandan and Koblerville are the most populous of the 125 villages in the CNMI in 2010.

Rep. Joseph Palacios (R-Saipan) said yesterday that one possible reason behind the increase in the number of housing units despite the decrease in population is that many young ones are deciding to live separate from their parents.

“They want to have their own place, they want to build their own house to be more independent from their parents,” said Palacios, who has long-pending initiative seeking to reduce by half the number of Saipan lawmakers in the House from 18 to nine because of the population decline and to cut government spending.

Detailed demographic profiles for the CNMI and other U.S. territories are planned for release this summer, and summary files for release in the fall.

The housing unit counts and other information about the Island Areas can be found on the Island Areas press kit page at http://2010.census.gov/news/press-kits/island-areas/island-areas.html.

This is the third time since August 2011 that the Census Bureau has released 2010 census data.