Demographic Change in Kosrae State, Federated States of Micronesia

The population of Kosrae has changed dramatically since its first contact with non-Micronesian societies nearly two hundred years ago. Some of the greatest changes occurred during the nineteenth century, when diseases introduced by outsiders nearly eradicated the native population. More recently the number of Kosrae residents has grown, the rapid increases during the twentieth century producing populations larger than any previously documented. The following study examines the evolving demography of this small archipelago. It begins with a summary of key periods of Kosrae history, followed by a description of demographic change based on available census data. Possible causes of population change are examined, focusing on fertility, mortality, and mobility. The study concludes with a discussion of the sociocultural and ecological impacts of demographic change in Kosrae and their implications for the future of this portion of the Federated States of Micronesia.