Count decline attributed to fewer births, rise in deaths and restrictions on entry of H2 workers
By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Guam’s new population is 153,836, representing a 3.5 percent decrease from the 2010 Census counts, or 159,358 persons, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 Census of Guam Housing Unit and Population count released today.
Officials attributed the population drop to slow growth in births and a rise in deaths on Guam.
According to data from the DPHSS, total births remained constant averaging about 3,300 births annually during the past decade. Total births dropped slightly at 2,938 births in 2020.
In contrast, the number of deaths on Guam increased during the past 10 years from 872 deaths in 2010 to a little over 1,000 deaths in 2020.
Other contributing factors may be the federal government’s increased restrictions on the entry of temporary skilled foreign laborers to Guam.
The population in the prior 10 years revealed a modest decade growth of 2.9 percent between 2000 and 2010.
The Guam census results showed a slight 2 percent rise in housing unit counts, or 988 housing units, between 2010 and 2020.
The five top villages showing an increase in housing unit counts are Talofofo, Santa Rita, Yigo, Dededo, and Mangilao.
Most villages saw a decline in population with the southern villages of Merizo and Umatac reporting double-digit percent loss (Merizo 13 percent, Umatac 17 percent).
The villages showing a rise in population were Talofofo, Piti, Santa Rita, Chalan Pago, Inarajan, and Sinajana with Talofofo showing the most growth at 16 percent, or 500 persons.
The village of Dededo showed no change in growth but still accounts for a third of Guam’s population.
The census also revealed a reduction in population on Anderson Air Force Base from 3,061 in 2010 to 1,973 in 2020, or 36 percent.
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This situation may change in the coming years with the military relocation of personnel and their families from Okinawa, Japan to Guam.
The Census Bureau has made available the housing unit and population count tables by municipality and census-designated place levels as attached.
“Our office continues to work with the Census Bureau to provide more detailed information on Guam’s housing and population characteristics in the coming months," said Tyrone Taitano, director of the Bureau of Statistics and Plans.
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