10 Nov 2010

Solomons population grows 26 percent in a decade

2:16 pm on 10 November 2010

The latest census in Solomon Islands has recorded a population increase of 26 percent between 1999 to 2009.

The country recorded a total of more than 515,000 people on the night of November the 22nd last year, compared with 409,000 people in the previous census in 1999.

The annual rate of growth for 2009 was 2.3 percent, a drop from the 2.8 percent rate in 1999.

A government statistician Nick Gagahe says the data will be useful for the government.

"I think mostly this will really improve our planning because evidence based planning is a real issue and with this kind of data in place and at hand, the government will be in a better position to plan its development."

Nick Gagahe says the population growth during the ten-year period can be attributed to an increase in fertility.