A.—4 A

Vital Statistics (Samoan). Population. The census taken on the night of the 31st December, 1925-Ist January, 1926, showed the Native population of Western Samoa to be 36,688, of which number 18,641 were males and 18,047 females. The movement of population during the year is shown below :— NATIVE POPULATION, WESTERN SAMOA. Males. Females. Total. At census of 31/12/25-1/1/26 . . . . . . .. .. 18,641 18,047 36,688 Live births during 1926 .. .. .. .. .. 1,056 909 1,965 Arrivals from overseas .. .. .. .. .. .. 427 300 727 Deaths during 1926 .. .. .. .. .. .. 376 347 723 Departures for overseas . . .. . . . . . . 365 289 654 Population at 31st December, 1926 (estimated) .. .. .. 19,383 18,620 38,003 Natural increase .. .. .. .. .. .. 680 562 1,242 Excess of arrivals over departures .. .. . . .. 62 11 73 Total increase in population .. .. .. .. .. 742 573 1,315 The percentage increase in population during 1926 was 3-58 as compared with 3-26 in 1925 and '3-35 in 1924. The arrivals from and departures for overseas tend to balance over a period of years. There is considerable traffic between Western Samoa and American Samoa, and to a lesser extent between Western Samoa and Fiji, and Tonga, but there is no definite immigration or emigration on the part of Samoans. Births. The births of 1,965 living children were registered during 1926, giving the birth-rate per thousand of mid-year population of 52-62. For 1925 and 1924 the figures were 2,033 and 1,901, and the birth-rates 56-30 and 55-38 respectively. BIRTHS OF SAMOANS, WESTERN SAMOA, 1926. Males. Females. Total. Upolu .. .. .. .. .. .. 680 620 1,300 Savai'i.. .. .. .. .. .. 376 289 665 Total, Western Samoa .. .. .. 1,056 909 1,965

BIRTHS BY MONTHS, 1926.

Still-births, which are not included either as births or deaths in the various numbers and rates given in this report, increased from 37 in 1925 to 48 in 1926. The still-birth rate per 100 live births for the past four years has been : 1923, 1-23 ; 1924, 1-68 ; 1925, 1-82 ; and 1926, 2-44. The figure for 1923 is possibly too low, this being the first year in which the new system of registration of births and deaths came into force, and there may possibly have been doubt in the minds of Native officials as to recording them. The marked rise in 1926 may or may not have been due to the long dry spell in 1925 and the storm of the Ist January, 1926, both of which caused a shortage of Native food-supplies, and thus inevitably led to much extra work on the part of the women on the plantations and in fishing. The shortage of food was most acute during the first quarter of the year, and it is interesting to note in connection therewith that there was a decrease in the number of births in the fourth quarter. Deaths. The number of deaths registered during the year was 723, giving a death-rate per one thousand of mid-year population of 19-36. For 1925 and 1924 the deaths numbered 857 and 766, and the death-rates were 23-75 and 22-29 respectively. The death-rate for 1926 was the lowest on record, and the reduction is chiefly if not solely due to saving of child-life. This matter is more fully dealt with under " Child Welfare." DEATHS OF SAMOANS, WESTERN SAMOA, 1926. Males. Females. Total; Upolo .. .. .. .. .. .. 243 222 465 Savai'i .. .. .. .. .. ..133 125 258 Totals, Western Samoa .. .. .. 376 347 723

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I I , I . , ! , , ; | I " : I j I I i j Jan. j Feb. j March. April. May. June, j July. August. Sept. j Oct. j Nov. j Dec. | Total. I I I - : j j I j I I I j J I 111 ! Males.. 86 69 97 77 96 90 108 103 104 87 68 71 1,056 Females 74 65 99 74 70 80 89 80 84 79 57 58 : 909 Total ..160 j 134 196 J 151 166 | 170 197 j 183 ! 188 | 166 125 129 1,965 _ 1 1 I I ' ; .i 1 1