A report on the results of the census of the population of Tuvalu 1979.

Tuvalu formerly the Ellice Islands in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony comprises 9 islands. Following a review of Tuvalus historical background information is presented on the following: growth and population distribution since 1973; sex and age; marital status; fertility; mortality; migration; social and economic characteristics; distribution of lands; household composition; characteristics of dwellings; and population projections. Within Tuvalu the pattern of population distribution changed little between 1931 and 1973. There were minor fluctuations between censuses but even Funafuti the center of administration commerce and transportation in Tuvalu only increased its share of the groups total by 4.5% during the 42 years. The distribution pattern remained remarkably constant but average annual rates of population growth between intercensal periods were quite variable. During the most recent intercensal period (1973 to 1978) the situation has been totally transformed by the Tuvaluans decision to become an independent nation. Most islands in the Tuvalu group show an excess of females over all ages in the communities although the very small numbers on some islands increase the effect of chance factors. A total fertility rate of 2.8 and a related crude birth rate of 23.7/1000 is very low for a developing country. Even if these fertility rates remain constant the actual number of births in the immediate future will rise because of the increasing size of the reproductive cohort. The fall in childhood mortality in the last intercensal period is considerable but there is some question as to whether it has been quite as extensive as the figures indicate. Repatriation mainly from the Gilbert Islands of Tarawa and Banaba during the last 5 years caused an estimated net return of about 1200 Tuvaluans. Many of these people did not resettle on their home islands but became residents of the islands of Funafuti and to a lesser extent Vaitupu. The high mobility of the Tuvaluan population was illustrated by the fact that only 23% of the males and 35% of the females of 15 years and over had been residents on their home island only.