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NMI population at 78,252
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Posted on Jun 01 2004
The CNMI now has a population of about 78,252, which represents a mere 0.026 percent of the entire U.S. population of 293,376,231—or a minute 0.001 percent of the world’s approximately over-6.369 billion population.
Population estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau’s International Data Base indicate that the CNMI’s population is not likely to increase significantly in the next four decades. The IDB is a computerized source of demographic and socio-economic statistics for 227 countries and areas of the world.
By 2010, the Census Bureau projected the CNMI population to reach 90,677 at a growth rate of 2.6 percent.
The IDB estimate shows that local population during the period 2040-2050 may just be around 143,132. Population growth rate during this period would decrease further to 0.7 percent.
The report came out as the CNMI government remains upbeat in increasing the participation of its native population in the local workforce. The government is currently implementing a moratorium on the hiring of alien workers from abroad, subject to certain exemptions.
Although it gave no explanations, the Census Bureau estimated that the population growth rate in the CNMI would gradually decline in the succeeding decades. IDB statistics showed that the islands’ population would reach approximately 108,905 by 2020, reflecting a growth rate of 1.8 percent during the 2010-2020 period.
Projections have it that the following decade would have a reduced growth rate of 1.2 percent, with the Census Bureau estimating that local population would reach only 122,594 by 2030. The bureau estimated 2040’s population to increase to only 133,758, reflecting a growth rate of only 0.9 percent.
The CNMI’s population growth rate had its peak so far during the 1980-1990 period at 9.6 percent. During this period, population jumped from 16,890 in 1980 to 44,037 in 1990. The influx of alien workers into the islands apparently contributed to the population increase.
The Census Bureau recorded the Northern Marianas’ 1970 population at only 12,359. The bureau reported that the islands’ 1950 population was a small 6,286, which increased to about 8,861 in 1960. (Edith G. Alejandro)
