Introduction
In previous chapters, we discussed a number of demographic topics including population structure, fertility, and
mortality. From these discussions, it is very clear that migration plays an important role in the population dynamics of
Chuuk. Migration is one of the main determinants of population size and growth (the others are fertility and mortality).
The measurement of migration, however, is more complex. Unlike fertility and mortality (which predictably happen
once in each person's lifetime) people may not ever migrate and those that do may do so more than once and for
different reasons. Some people migrate for employment, others for education, visiting, and so forth.
Migration involves movement from one place to another. In the case of Chuuk, three main types of migration are
present: 1) migration between Chuuk and other FSM States (referred to here as interstate); 2) migration between the
Lagoon and Outer Islands (referred to here as internal); and 3) migration between Chuuk and outside of Chuuk,
including other non-FSM states (referred to here as international migration). There is also migration between the
regions and municipalities but because of the small numbers concerned, it is not desirable to make detailed analysis of
them. A person who migrates is referred to as an immigrant or in-migrant with respect to the area of destination, and
an emigrant or out-migrant with respect to the place of origin (in each case the former term is used for international
migration and the latter for internal and interstate migration). Censuses are not the most reliable sources for measuring
international migration. Data from other sources will be used in this report to provide at least some insight into
emigration from Chuuk. On the other hand, the census is a reliable source for measuring internal and inter-state
migration.
Migration has emerged as an extremely important factor shaping the demography of the Pacific (Connell, 1990). This
is true for Chuuk although the levels and patterns of migration differ in many respects from other parts of the Pacific.
Because the Census asks different questions about migration, it actually defines migration in different ways for
different purposes. This is an important point for census data users to understand because it means that different
migration figures presented in the different tables may not be strictly comparable with each other. For example, even
though data on birthplace and residence 5 years ago provide a basis for measuring migration, the measures obtained are
defined differently, serve different purposes, and are not comparable. For the same reason, unlike with fertility or
mortality, it is not easy to make comparisons of levels of internal migration between different countries.
Data Description
Birthplace
The 2000 Census asked for details of everyone's place of birth and recorded island/village, municipality, and FSM
states if a person was born in the FSM. When a person's birthplace was outside FSM, the name of the foreign country
was recorded.
Citizenship and Legal Residence
Details of citizenship were obtained for all persons in the FSM. The question requested the municipality and state of
legal residence (place where a person is a registered voter) for FSM citizens. For non-FSM citizens, the country of
citizenship was recorded.
Continuous Residence
Continuous residence was obtained from questionnaire items P11a and P11b, asked of all persons residing in the FSM.
The question requested respondents to provide the month and year they started living continuously at the present place
of residence. If respondents had not been living continuously in the present residence since birth, they were requested
to provide the name of the municipality, FSM State, or foreign country in which they previously resided.
Residence in 1995
All individuals who responded that they lived in a different municipality or overseas on April 1, 1995 (five years prior
to the census) were requested to give the name of the municipality and FSM state, or foreign country of residence.
Chapter 6. Migration
2000 FSM Census of Chuuk State
50
Chuuk Branch Statistics Office, Division of Statistics, FSM Department of Economic Affairs
Limitations and Comparability. Due to changes in the boundaries of foreign countries over the past decades, some
persons may have reported their place of birth in terms of boundaries that existed at the time of their birth but have
since changed.
Not all migratory moves in the five years before the census were covered. For example, some persons may have resided
in the same place in 1994 and 2000 but moved in the interim. This migration was not taken into account. Where
persons moved more than once in the five years before the census, only the place of residence five years before and the
current place of residence were recorded.
Analysis of Migration Data
The data from the 2000 Census was used to determine the migration patterns in Chuuk, including place of birth,
citizenship, continuous residence, and residence in 1995. These are compared with the 1989 and 1994 Censuses (if
available) and are also used to analyze the changes that took place over time.
Birthplace
Birthplace provides useful data on lifetime migration and mobility patterns, covering an indefinite time interval,
determined by people's ages and the timing and direction of movement. Table 6.1 compares the birthplace of Chuuk
residents in 1989, 1994 and 2000.
With few exceptions, the data shows that the overseas-born immigrant population to Chuuk was primarily male,
especially from other FSM States in 2000 and Asia in 1994 and again in 1989. These differences in sexes could have
important implications for future composition of the Chuuk population, particularly if the international migration were
to increase. The figures suggest that immigration, particularly from Asia, increased rapidly between 1989 and 1994,
but fell in 2000. While the Chuuk-born population grew by more than 1 percent (746persons) between census years
1994 and 2000, the Asian-born population decreased by more about 90 percent (438 persons) during the same period.
Table 6.1: Birthplace of Chuuk Residents by Sex: 1989 to 2000
1989 Males per 1994 Males per 2000 Males per
Birthplace Total Males Females 100 females Total Males Females 100 females Total Males Females 100 females
Total 47,871 24,203 23,668 102.3 53,319 27,299 26,020 104.9 53,595 27,158 26,437 102.7 Chuuk 46,829 23,605 23,224 101.6 52,347 26,562 25,785 103.0 53,093 26,846 26,247 102.3 Outside Chuuk 1,042 598 444 134.7 972 737 235 313.6 502 312 190 164.2 Other FSM States 406 221 185 119.5 224 134 90 148.9 192 128 64 200.0 USA 232 131 101 129.7 212 118 94 125.5 80 49 31 158.1 Asia 69 47 22 213.6 489 454 35 1,297.1 51 38 13 292.3 Elsewhere 335 199 136 146.3 47 31 16 193.8 179 97 82 118.3
Source: 1989 Chuuk Censuses; 1994 FSM Census, Table P17; 2000 FSM Census, Table P2-5..
Table 6.2 shows place of usual residence by country of birth for 1994 and 2000 to reveal some details about
international migration. In census year 2000, 99 percent of Chuuk residents were born in Chuuk. The immigrant
population accounted for about 1 percent of the total population (a 1 percent drop from 1994). The immigrant
population comprised of foreigners (including other FSM State persons) and Chuukese born overseas who had returned
to Chuuk. Between 1994 and 2000, the number of foreign-born individuals in Chuuk was reduced: Asians by 438,
Americans by 132 and other Micronesians States by 32 persons. The only increase was for individuals born
‘elsewhere’ by 132 persons. The largest proportion among all the foreign-born people in Chuuk at the time of 2000
Census was from the other FSM states, while during the 1994 Census was from Asia, comprised mostly of Chinese-
born fishermen.
Almost all of the Chuuk residents were born in their place of residence. The highest percentage of foreign-born in
Chuuk Lagoon were those born in other FSM states, accounting for almost half (46 percent) of the foreign-born
population. Similarly, the majority (78 percent) of foreigners in the Outer Islands were born in other FSM States.
2000 FSM Census of Chuuk State
Chapter 6. Migration
Table 6.2: Birthplace of Chuuk Residents: 1994 and 2000
Number Percent
1994 2000 1994 2000
Birthplace Total Lagoon Outer Is.. Total Lagoon Outer Is. Total Lagoon Outer Is. Total Lagoon Outer Is.
Total 53,319 41,662 11,657 53,595 40,465 13,130 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Chuuk 52,347 40,756 11,591 53,093 39,986 13,107 98.2 97.8 99.4 99.1 98.8 99.8 Lagoon 39,355 39,005 350 38,265 37,936 329 73.8 93.6 3.0 71.4 93.8 2.5 Outer Islands 12,992 1,751 11,241 14,828 2,050 12,778 24.4 4.2 96.4 27.7 5.1 97.3 Outside Chuuk 972 906 66 502 479 23 1.8 2.2 0.6 0.9 1.2 0.2 Other FSM state 224 185 39 192 174 18 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.1 USA 212 188 24 80 79 1 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.2 … Asia 489 488 1 51 51 - 0.9 1.2 … 0.1 0.1 -
China and Taiwan 327 327 - - - - 0.6 0.8 - - - -
Philippines 124 124 - 44 44 - 0.2 0.3 - 0.1 0.1 -
Other Asia 38 37 1 7 7 - 0.1 0.1 … … … -
Elsewhere 47 45 2 179 175 4 0.1 0.1 … 0.3 0.4 …
Source: 1994 FSM Census, Table P17; 2000 FSM Census, Table P2-5.
Note: "USA" includes Guam and CNMI
Table 6.3 shows lifetime interstate migration among the FSM states for 1994 and 2000. The number of Chuuk
migrants traveling to the other FSM states was greater than the number coming in for both census years. For example,
in 2000, 913 lifetime migrants to the three FSM States compared with only 192 migrants to Chuuk. On the other hand,
in 1994 Chuuk lost 665 migrants to the other states, and gained only 224. The majority of the out-migrants in both
census years were residing in Pohnpei State.
In 2000 the direction of migration flow from Chuuk was principally towards Pohnpei and Kosrae (Figure 6.1). The
largest outflow was towards Pohnpei, which gained about 700 people from Chuuk.
Table 6.3: State of Birth of Chuuk and other FSM States: 1994 and 2000
State of Usual Residence in 1994 State of Usual Residence in 2000
State of Birth Total Chuuk Yap Pohnpei Kosrae Total Chuuk Yap Pohnpei Kosrae
Total 102,116 52,571 10,421 32,306 6,818 103,891 53,285 10,404 32,920 7,282
Chuuk 53,012 52,347 57 588 20 54,006 53,093 47 804 62
Yap 10,539 36 10,326 171 6 10,600 59 10,303 224 14
Pohnpei 31,595 170 33 31,233 159 32,069 118 51 31,604 296
Kosrae 6,970 18 5 314 6,633 7,216 15 3 288 6,910
Source: 1994 FSM Censuses, Table P18; 2000 FSM Census, Table P2-5.
Figure 6.1 Interstate Lifetime Net-Migration Flows of Chuuk and other FSM States, Chuuk: 2000.
Table 6.4 shows internal lifetime migration between the Lagoon and Outer Islands. Of the 53,093 persons born in
Chuuk, 50,714 were non-movers or who resided in their region of birth. The internal lifetime migrants were the 2,395
who now resided in a different region than the one in which they were born.
The lifetime migration rate column of table 6.4 describes net-migration as a rate, dividing the net-migrants by the total
population. However, since the timing of the migration is undetermined, the rate expressed does not itself relate to any
specific period, but enables broad comparison between regions. Lifetime internal migration affected both regions in
different ways. The Lagoon had a lifetime internal migration rate of 4.4 per hundred, while the Outer Islands had a
173 47 11 11 686 12 8
Chapter 6. Migration
2000 FSM Census of Chuuk State
52
Chuuk Branch Statistics Office, Division of Statistics, FSM Department of Economic Affairs
are losing people. The negative net migration rate in the Outer Islands was largely due to people moving to the Lagoon
for easier accessibility to the higher level of education, school facilities, and job market.
Lifetime internal migration differed by sex. As shown in Table 6.4, census year 2000 data showed a change in
lifetime internal migration such that female movers outnumbered their male counterparts, whereas in 1994 male
movers outnumbered the female movers. The female internal migrants in census year 2000 outnumbered their male
counterparts, with 932 compared to 773 males. The Outer Islands lost both males and females as a result of internal
lifetime migration. However, these people are recouped in the Lagoon.
Table 6.4. Internal Lifetime Migration, Chuuk State: 1994 and 2000
1994 2000
Lifetime Lifetime
Non- In- Out- Net- Migration Non- In- Out- Net- Migration
Region movers migrants migrants migrants Rate (%) movers migrants migrants migrants Rate (%)
Total Lagoon 39,005 1,751 350 1,401 3.5 37,936 2,050 345 1,705 4.4 Outer Islands 11,241 350 1,751 (1,401) (11.4) 12,778 345 2,050 (1,705) (12.3) Males Lagoon 19,832 875 204 671 3.3 19,304 960 187 773 4.0 Outer Islands 5,651 204 875 (671) (10.8) 6,411 187 960 (773) (11.3) Females Lagoon 19,173 876 146 730 3.7 18,632 1,090 158 932 4.8 Outer Islands 5,590 146 876 (730) (12.0) 6,367 158 1,090 (932) (13.4) Source: 1994 FSM Censuses, Table P17 & unpublished data; 2000 FSM Census, Table P2-5 & unpublished data.
Citizenship and Legal Residence
A similar migration pattern was found when place of birth was used to estimate migration flow and that is citizenship.
Most residents in Chuuk were legal residents of Chuuk as shown in Table 6.5. The majority of the non-Chuukese were
citizens of other FSM states, accounting for about 41 percent, while U.S and Asian citizens accounted for about 25 and
17 percents respectively. The majority of these non-Chuukese citizens resided in the Lagoon, accounting for less than
1 percent of the total Chuukese population (more than 1 percent drop from 1994).
Table 6.5: Usual Residence by Citizenship, Chuuk State: 1994 and 2000 Country of citizenship
1994 2000
Other FSM Else- Other FSM Else-
Usual residence Total Percent Chuuk states USA Asia where Total Percent Chuuk States USA Asia where
Total 53,319 100.0 98.2 0.4 0.4 0.9 0.1 53,595 100.0 99.5 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 Lagoon 41,662 100.0 97.8 0.4 0.5 1.2 0.1 38,005 100.0 99.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 N. Namoneas 17,093 100.0 95.1 1.0 0.9 2.8 0.2 10,360 100.0 97.8 1.0 0.5 0.4 0.4 S. Namoneas 11,898 100.0 99.7 0.1 0.2 - - 12,373 100.0 99.8 0.1 0.1 … … Faichuk 12,671 100.0 99.7 - 0.1 0.1 - 15,272 100.0 99.9 … 0.1 - … Outer Islands 11,657 100.0 99.4 0.3 0.2 - - 15,590 100.0 100.0 … … - - Mortlocks 6,471 100.0 99.4 0.4 0.1 - - 8,848 100.0 100.0 … - - - Pattiw 2,171 100.0 99.3 0.2 0.5 - - 2,968 100.0 100.0 - - - - Namonwito 1,001 100.0 98.9 0.5 0.6 - - 1,433 100.0 99.9 - 0.1 - - Halls 2,014 100.0 100.0 - - - - 2,341 100.0 99.9 0.1 - - -
Source: 1994 FSM Censuses, Table P18; 2000 FSM Census, Table P2-6.
In Table 6.6, the data show Chuuk legal residents in the FSM, presenting their place of usual residence. Legal
residence is defined as the place where a person is a registered voter during the election preceding the census. Such
information is especially useful in the decision-making process of appropriating government funds. The data show that
in both census years a vast majority of the population lived in their place of legal residence. For example, in the 2000
Census, 97 percent of the Northern Namoneas legal residents were residing in Northern Namoneas at the time of the
census. This also holds true for the Outer Islands, except for the Mortlocks of which about 76 percent lived in their
place of legal residence.
2000 FSM Census of Chuuk State
Chapter 6. Migration
Table 6.6: Municipality and State of Legal Residence by Municipality of Usual Residence, Chuuk State: 1994 and 2000 Usual residence
Lagoon Outer Islands
Legal residence Total Total N. Namoneas S. Namoneas Faichuk Total Mortlocks Oksoritod Other FSM
1994 Total 53,037 40,920 16,416 11,876 12,628 11,637 6,466 5,171 480 Lagoon 37,503 37,178 12,747 11,844 12,587 25 15 10 300 N. Namoneas 10,916 10,731 10,657 47 27 19 12 7 166 S. Namoneas 12,677 12,593 874 11,695 24 3 2 1 81 Faichuk 13,910 13,854 1,216 102 12,536 3 1 2 53 Outer Islands 15,534 3,742 3,669 32 41 11,612 6,451 5,161 180 Mortlocks 9,697 3,110 3,063 29 18 6,459 6,450 9 128 Oksoritod 5,837 632 606 3 23 5,153 1 5,152 52 2000 Total 53,909 40,184 14,492 11,664 14,028 13,124 6,908 6,216 601 Lagoon 38,063 37,709 12,081 11,631 13,997 15 6 9 339 N. Namoneas 10,337 10,121 10,031 77 13 9 3 6 207 S. Namoneas 12,434 12,338 833 11,477 28 5 3 2 91 Faichuk 15,292 15,250 1,217 77 13,956 1 - 1 41 Outer Islands 15,846 2,475 2,411 33 31 13,109 6,902 6,207 262 Mortlocks 9,054 1,940 1,885 30 25 6,905 6,901 4 209 Oksoritod 6,792 535 526 3 6 6,204 1 6,203 53
Source: 1994 FSM Censuses, Table P18; 2000 FSM Census, Table P2-6.
Continuous Residence
Data on continuous residence is used to determine migration levels and patterns. Table 6.7 gives the percent
distribution of the non-migrant population. In both census years, around 89 percent of the Chuuk population responded
that they had been living in his or her present municipality of residence their entire life, or were non-movers. On the
other hand, about 10 percent responded that they had changed place of residence, or were movers.
The table also shows different migration levels and patterns between the regions. Persons in the Outer Islands were
more likely to be non-movers compared to the Lagoon. For instance, in 2000, over 95 percent of the Outer Island
residents were non-movers compared to 88 percent in the Lagoon. These differences were partly due to the different
immigration and in-migration levels experienced in the two areas.
Table 6.7: Distribution of Non-movers and Previous Residence, Chuuk State: 1994 and 2000
Place of Residence
Residence since birth 1994 2000
and previous place of residence Total Lagoon Outer Islands Total Lagoon Outer Islands
Total 53,319 41,662 11,657 53,595 40,465 13,130
Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Lived in municipality since birth 88.8 87.5 93.5 90.1 88.3 95.4
Previous residence elsewhere 11.2 12.5 6.5 9.9 11.7 4.6
Source: 1994 FSM Censuses, Table P18; 2000 FSM Census, Table P2-7..
In Table 6.8 we take the movers (about 11 percent and 10 percent for 1994 and 2000, respectively) defined in Table 6.7
as “previous residence elsewhere” and look at the duration of their residence and their previous place of residence.
Between 1994 and 2000, the percentage of residents who had continuously resided in their municipality of residence
less than 6 months declined while the percentage continually resided in their municipality of residence for 2 to 5 years
increased. The proportion of persons who had continuously resided in their municipality of residence for 5 years or
more was over 60 percent. This pattern suggested that presently, people are more likely to move than before.
In 2000, less than 10 percent of the movers previously resided outside Chuuk. Additionally, less than 1 percent of the
movers previously resided in Asia, compared to 8 percent in 1994. This is due in part to the suspension of the Ting
Hong fishing ventures in the interim.
Chapter 6. Migration
2000 FSM Census of Chuuk State
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Chuuk Branch Statistics Office, Division of Statistics, FSM Department of Economic Affairs
Table 6.8: Movers by Place of Previous Residence, Chuuk State: 1994 and 2000
1994 2000
Horizontal percent Horizontal percent
Vertical Other FSM Else- Vertical Other FSM Else-
Duration of residence Total Percent Percent Chuuk states In Asia where Number percent Percent Chuuk states In Asia where
Total 5,964 100.0 100.0 80.6 3.9 7.9 7.6 5,317 100.0 100.0 90.5 2.9 0.8 5.8
Less than 6 months 770 12.9 100.0 82.7 5.6 2.3 9.4 360 6.8 100.0 86.4 0.8 0.3 12.5
6 months to 1 year 409 6.9 100.0 78.7 1.2 4.6 15.4 431 8.1 100.0 73.3 10.0 1.9 14.8
1 to 2 years 418 7.0 100.0 72.2 7.2 4.8 15.8 417 7.8 100.0 80.1 3.1 0.5 16.3
2 to 5 years 540 9.1 100.0 73.7 7.6 4.8 13.9 770 14.5 100.0 88.3 2.9 1.2 7.7
5 years or more 3,827 64.2 100.0 82.3 3.0 10.1 4.6 3,339 62.8 100.0 94.9 2.1 0.7 2.2
Source: 1994 FSM Census, Table P18; 2000 FSM 2000 FSM Census, Table P2-7.
Note: Duration of residence refers to continuous residence at the municipality of usual residence.
Place of Residence Five Years Prior to the Census
More specific time-bound migration information was collected based on usual residence exactly five years before the
censuses. Tables 6.9 to 6.13 present this information, necessarily excluding persons less than 5 years old during the
respective censuses. For many purposes, including estimating migration levels for population projections, this kind of
information is very useful.
Table 6.9 can be interpreted in a similar way to Table 6.3, which dealt with lifetime migration. However, since the
period covered was shorter the number of migrants is reduced. The number of immigrants from outside Chuuk had
declined slightly from 571 for period 1989 to 1994) to 510 (for period 1995 to 2000). Likewise, internal migrants --
those migrants between Lagoon and Outer Islands -- declined from 790 to 630 for the respective periods. The Lagoon
is the destination of migrants from both within and outside Chuuk. For example, for period 1995 to 2000, 418 (66
percent) of the internal migrants and 473 (93 percent) of the immigrants moved to the Lagoon.
Table 6.9: Residence 5 Years Ago by Usual Residence for Persons Aged 5 Years and Over, Chuuk State: 1994 and 2000
1994 2000
Residence 5 years ago Total Lagoon Outer Islands Total Lagoon Outer Islands
Total 44,879 34,978 9,901 46,248 34,886 11,362 Chuuk 44,308 34,478 9,830 45,738 34,413 11,325 Lagoon 34,096 33,892 204 34,207 33,995 212 Outer Islands 10,212 586 9,626 11,531 418 11,113 Outside Chuuk 571 500 71 510 473 37 Other FSM states 134 120 14 106 93 13 USA 294 250 44 327 314 13 Asia 97 96 1 22 21 1 Elsewhere 46 34 12 55 45 10
Source: 1994 FSM Census, Table P20; 2000 FSM Census, Table P2-8
Table 6.10 summarizes the internal migration presented in Table 6.9 and compares internal migration rates between
the Chuuk Lagoon and the Outer Islands in between periods 1989 to 1994 and periods 1995 to 2000. The level of
migration had decline between the two periods but the pattern is somewhat the same. A comparison of annual
migration rates per 1,000 persons for both census years indicated that the Chuuk Lagoon received more in-migrants
than out-migrants and that the reverse was true for the Outer Islands. An advantage of specific 5-year migration is
that it permits the calculation of an annual migration rate, which measures the impact that migration has on
population growth. Although not as significant as census year 1994 (migration rate of about 8 percent), the impact
was greatest in the Outer Islands, where annual net out-migration accounted for about 4 per thousand of the
population. In other words, between 1995 and 2000, 4 out of every thousand people out-migrated to the Lagoon
area. On the other hand, the Lagoon is gaining 1 person per thousand annually in the same period.
Table 6.10. Annual Internal Migration Rate by Region, Chuuk State: 1994 and 2000
1989 to 1994 1995 to 2000
Non- In- Out- Net- Annual migration Non- In- Out- Net- Annual migration
Region movers migrants migrants migrants rate (%) movers migrants migrants migrants rate (%)
Total Lagoon 33,892 586 204 382 2.2 33,995 418 215 203 1.2 Outer Islands 9,626 204 586 (382) (7.6) 11,113 215 418 (203) (3.6) Males Lagoon 17,308 280 104 176 2.0 11,414 186 100 86 1.5 Outer Islands 4,846 104 280 (176) (7.0) 5,636 103 186 (83) (2.9) Females Lagoon 16,584 306 100 206 2.5 22,581 232 112 120 1.1 Outer Islands 4,780 100 306 (206) (8.3) 5,477 112 232 (120) (4.2) Source: 1994 FSM Census, Table P20 & unpublished; 2000 FSM Census, Table P2-8
Note: Annual migration rate is defined as (logP2/P1)/N, where P2 is the sum of non-movers and in-migrants, P1 is the sum of non-movers and out-migrants, and N is the number of years in the defined period.
2000 FSM Census of Chuuk State
Chapter 6. Migration
Table 6.11 summarizes the interstate migration presented in Table 6.9 and compares interstate migration rates between
the Chuuk Lagoon and other FSM states between periods 1989 to 1994 and periods 1995 to 2000. Over the two
periods, an increasing number of Chuukese have migrated out of Chuuk to other FSM states, particularly to Pohnpei.
On the other hand, the number of people moved into Chuuk from the other FSM states decreased slightly from 134 to
110.
Table 6.11: Residence Five Years Ago by Usual Residence for Persons 5 Years and Over, Chuuk State: 1994 and 2000
1994 2000
Residence 5 years ago Total Chuuk Yap Pohnpei Kosrae Total Chuuk Yap Pohnpei Kosrae