I Lesatele
People living in the Apia Urban Area are decreasing in numbers according to the latest census.
The 2021 census preliminary report recorded the population of the Apia Urban Area at 34,963 people. In the 2016 census it was up 36,343.
The Apia Urban Area comprises of the political districts of Vaimauga 2, Vaimauga 3, Vaimauga 4 and Faleata 1.
Experiencing the most decline is Vaimauga 4 which includes villages like Malifa, Aai o Niue, Apia, Maluafou, Tauese, Mulivai, Palisi, Vaimea, Sogi, Mulinu’u and others.
The population of Vaimauga 4 in the 2016 population was 7060 but in 2021 the count was 6014.
Of the 25 villages which make up Vaimauga 4, twenty two (22) villages which is 80% of the total villages were recorded to have population decline.
Sogi village in the 2016 census had a population of 279 and that is a decline of 53%.
The 2021 census recorded Sogi’s population at 129. Its neighbouring village Mulinuu had a head count of 27 in 2016 and this was reduced to 18 in the 2021 census.
Other villages with notable declines are Togafu’afu’a-from 423 people in 2016 to 261 in 2021 and Fugalei which declined from 199 to 166, Savalalo from 126 to 95 and Motootua from 436 to 339.
Villages in Vaimauga 4 which recorded increases though slight were Leufisa from 235 in the 2016 count to 252 in 2021, Leififi from 31 to 34, and Aai o Fiti from 161 to 175.
The preliminary report does not give reasons for the decline or increase but a former resident of Malifa which had a population of 160 in the 2016 census and 146 in the 2021 census offered an insight into the movement of the members from their household over the many years and no doubt many would identify with this.
It was explained by the former resident that only four people now live at their family home at Malifa and that the exit from the family home started well before the latest two population counts.
The latest members to leave the home were two members of the family who were there in the 2016 census but are now living at Siusega where they have built a home.
Other members of the family have long gone overseas now residing there permanently raising children and grandchildren while some are in Savaii running the family business.
Others have set up homes in areas like Siusega, Vailoa,Tulaele and Falelauniu. The matriarch and the patriarch of the family have passed on a long time ago. The only one now living at the family home at Malifa is one sibling and three relatives from Savaii who have jobs and attending school in town.
It was also observed that businesses are set up in houses or in places which used to be homes at Malifa.
Decreases were also recorded for Vaimauga 2 which had a total population of 5972 in 2016 but declined to 5699 in 2021 and Faleata 1 from 12972 in 2016 to 12740 in 2021. Recorded also an increase for Vaimauga 3 from 10339 in 2016 to 10510 in 2021.
Regions which recorded increases in in the latest count are North West Upolu and Rest of Upolu.
North West Upolu’s population in 2016 was 68,773 and in 2021 this has risen to 74216.
Political districts in North West Upolu are Vaimauga 1, Faleata 2, Faleata 3, Faleata 4, Sagaga 1,2 ,3 and 4; Aana Alofi 1,2,3 and 4.
All these districts with the exception of Faleata 3 experienced increase in their population.
One of the districts experiencing rapid growth in North West Upolu is Sagaga 1. The total population for this district is 7948.
In 2016 it was 6416.Comprising the district are the villages of Faleula, Aele Fou, Nu’u and Tafaigata.
Nu’u is found to be most rapid in population growth in the Sagaga 1 district. In 2016 its population was 1761 and over the period of five years it population has grown to 2303.
It is followed by Tafaigata with a current population of 1508 people in comparison to 1072 in 2016.
Faleula is the most populated village in the district with a population of 3240 in 2021 and in 2016 it was 2948. Faleula between the two census had an additional 292 people.
Aele Fou is expanding gradually adding 262 more to its population over the last 5 years. Its population now stands at 897. In 2016 it was 636.
Other districts experiencing rapid growth in their population are Vaimauga 1, Faleata 2 , Faleata 3 and Sagaga 3.
In the population count for the Rest of Upolu region the most populated district is that of the Aiga I le Tai which has a population of 5272 in 2021 which is a decline from that of 2016 which recorded a population of 5851.