A.—4A,

4

Population. The Native population of Western Samoa, estimated from the census of 1921, amounted to 35,976, but the census of Ist January, 1926, showed it to be 36,688. The discrepancy of 712 is due to one or more of the following causes : (a) The census of J 921 may not have been accurate. (b) The present system of registration of births and deaths only commenced in 1923, and the records previous to that date may not be accurate, (c) The records of arrivals from and departures for overseas showed an excess of departures over arrivals of more than 500 during the first, four and a half years following the census of 1921. A more careful check for the six months ending 31st December showed no such discrepancy. The explanation of the greater part of the difference between the estimated and the census figures is probably to be found in these returns. In the table given below the population as at 31st December, 1924, has been estimated by working back from the census of Ist January, 1926. Notes on the census will be found in Appendix D. Native Population, Western Samoa. Males. Females. Total. Estimated population, 31st December, 1924 18,064 17,465 35,529 Live births during 1925 .. .. 1,045 988 2,033 Arrivals from overseas, 1925 .. .. 926 569 1,495 Deaths during 1925 .. .. .. 465 392 857 Departure for overseas, 1925 .. .. 929 583 1,512 Population, 31st December, 1925 .. 18,641 18,047 36,688 Net increase .. .. .. .. 577 582 1,159 Births. The births of 2,033 living children were registered during 1925, as compared with 1,900 in 1924, and 1,701 in 1923. On only one other occasion since 1906 has the number of births exceeded 1,700 : this was in 1912, when the mid-year population was 33,939, and the number of births 1,792, the birth-rate being 52-8 per thousand. The birth-rate for 1925 was 56-30 per thousand of mid-year population, as compared with 55-38 for 1924 and 50-49 for 1923. The total number of Samoan women, as disclosed by the census of Ist January, 1926, was 18,947. Of this total 8,304 are or have been married, and a further 2,806 have passed the age of puberty but are as yet unmarried, a total of 11,110 females above the age of puberty (puberty has been reckoned at twelve years). The birth-rate calculated on the above number of available females is 183 per thousand. No estimate of the number of females of reproductive age is available. (Note. —Still-births, of which 37 were registered during the year, are not included either as births or deaths in the various numbers and rates given below.) Births of Samoans, Western Samoa, 1925. Males. Females. Total. Upolu .. .. .. .. .. 683 664 1,347 Savai'i .. .. .. .. ..362 324 686 Total, Western Samoa .. .. 1,045 988 2,033

Births by Months.

Deaths. The number of deaths registered during the year was 857, as compared with 766 in 1924 and 1,398 in 1923. The death-rate was 23-75 per thousand of mid-year population, the rates for 1923 and 1924 being respectively 41-50 and 22-29. Deaths of Samoans, Western Samoa, 1925. Males. Females. Total. Upolu .. .. .. .. .. 316 264 '580 Savai'i 149 128 277 Total, Western Samoa .. .. 465 392 857

I. ~~ ~ ~ I — Jan. Feb. March, j April. May. June. July. jAugust. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total. Males.. 85 68 90 83 101 101 94 94 88 86 83 72 1,045 Females 73 62 102 71 96 83 87 77 86 100 85 66 988 Total 158 130 192 154 197 184 181 171 174 186 168 1 138 2,033 I I I