Chuuk State Census Report - pacificweb.org

CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTIONThe creation of the independent and sovereign nation of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) under the Compactof Free Association with the United States caused a growing need for social and economic development planning.Consequently both the government and private sectors needed social, economic, and demographic data. Furthermore,as in many developing countries, administrators and planners in Chuuk State, in their quest for social and economicdevelopment often contended with incomplete or unavailable information. The 2000 FSM Census of Chuuk State wasthus conducted as part of the overall effort to provide current and updated information required for planning andadministrative purposes. This report presents basic analysis of the 2000 FSM Census results of Chuuk, which alsocovers the 1994 Census results for comparison purposes.This chapter locates Chuuk geographically and presents a brief history and population distribution of Chuuk State inselected census years, along with some background on the methodology of the 2000 FSM Census. Chapter 2 presentspopulation change and structure. Chapter 3 presents households and marital status. Chapters 4 to 6 discuss populationdynamics (fertility, mortality, and migration). Chapters 7 to 11 provide the basic analysis for social and economiccharacteristics. Chapter 12 presents housing characteristics. A separate publication presenting detailed tabulations forChuuk from the 2000 FSM Census has also been compiled and disseminated by the Division of Statistics, of the FSMDepartment of Economic Affairs. Supplemental information and data from previous selected censuses (1973, 1980,1989 and 1994) are used to present change over time.Geographical characteristicsChuuk, situated at 151 0 22' to 150 0 04' east longitude, 7 0 7' to 7 0 41' north latitude, is approximately 650 miles east ofGuam, 1,200 miles west of the Marshall Islands and 380 miles west of Pohnpei. The main atoll, at the center of theState, is surrounded by a quarter mile long, triangular reef varying from 30 to 49 miles in diameter, which protrudesabove the water in about 50 places to form low islets. The lagoon, having a circumference of 140 miles and an area of823 square miles, contains six fairly large, high, habitable volcanic islands and many lesser ones, of which about onehundred have names (Goodenough 1951:19). The high islands and many low coral sand islets in the lagoon have a totalland area of 38.6 square miles. Chuuk consists of approximately 100 islands, 43 of which are inhabited with a total landarea of 49.2 square miles scattered over an ocean area 300 miles wide and 600 miles long.ClimateChuuk State is characterized by a wet, warm and humid climate, which is similar to most Pacific Islands in the NorthPacific. Weather variations are most evident in wind and rainfall characteristics. Temperature and relative humiditylevels remain consistent throughout the year. Tropical disturbances, even though highly unpredictable, are generallyquite seasonal in nature.Prevailing northeasterly and southerly winds are moderate (7 to 11 miles per hour) throughout the year. Northeasterlytrade winds occur during the months of November through April with higher wind speed being prevalent from Januarythrough March. Lower velocity winds from the south, southeast and southwest are predominant during the months ofJune through October.The average rainfall in Chuuk is approximately 150 inches per year. Monthly rainfall ranges from 6 to almost 16inches. The least amount of monthly rainfall (6 to 9 inches) occurs during the months of January to March as strongernortheasterly trade winds approach Chuuk.Ambient air temperatures typically range from a daily low of 75 0 Fahrenheit (24 0 Centigrade) to an average high of 87 0Fahrenheit (31 0 Centigrade). Daily levels of relative humidity range from 78 percent, during daylight hours, toapproximately 85 to 87 percent during the night and early morning hours.Tropical storms generally occur between the months of July and November; many are associated with the influence ofthe inter-tropical convergence zone which typically moves northward through Chuuk during this time of the year. Theoccurrence of typhoons in immediate vicinity of Chuuk is uncommon. However, in 1987,Typhoon Nina passed close toChuuk Lagoon causing heavy damage to homes, and buildings and agricultural crops. Again in November of 1990,Chuuk Branch Statistics Office, Division of Statistics, FSM Department of Economic Affairs 1