From the Variety archives: More Asians than Pacific islanders in CNMI

CNMI's 2010 census: More Asians than Pacific islanders

Written by By Alexie Villegas Zotomayor - avz@mvariety.com - Variety News Staff

THERE are more residents of Asian descent than Pacific Islanders according to the 2010 CNMI Demographic Profile Summary File, Census of Population and Housing.

Of the 53,883 total population registered during the 2010 Census, 18,800 were Pacific Islanders while Asians numbered 26,908.

The report also showed that there were 55 African Americans, 54 Hispanic/Latinos, 1,117 Caucasians, 117 belonging to other ethnic groups, and 6,932 from two or more ethnic origins.

Of the 18,800 in total Pacific Islanders or Native Hawaiians residing in the Northern Marianas as of 2010, there were 2,461, Carolinians; 12,902, Chamorros 1,242, Chuukese 37, Kosraean 68, Marshallese 1,169, Palauan 425, Pohnpeian 228, Yapese and 268 Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders.

Meanwhile, Filipinos were the majority among Asians with a total population of 19,017.

They were followed by Chinese nationals (excluding Taiwanese), 3,659; Koreans, 2,253; Japanese, 795; Bangladeshis, 501; Thais, 266; Nepalese, 227; other Asians, 190.

As to their distributions in the islands, of the 18,800 Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians, 16,210 resided on Saipan; 1,222 on Tinian; and 1,368 on Rota.

Of the 16,210 Pacific Islanders or Native Hawaiians residing on Saipan, the majority or 5,716 lived in District 1; 3,718 in District 3; 3,677 in District 5; 1,626 in District 2; and 1,473 in District 4.

Carolinians, on the other hand, were mostly concentrated in District 3 where 846 of the total 2,461 registered in the 2010 Census lived; 674, District 1; 201, District 2; 224, District 4; and 501, District 5.

In 2010, there were 12,902 Chamorros in the CNMI: 10,411 on Saipan; 1,183 on Tinian and 1,308 on Rota.

On Saipan, a majority of the Chamorros or 3,737 resided in District 1; 1,011, District 2; 1,996, District 3; 973, District 4; and 2,694, District 5.

Most of the Chuukese in the CNMI at the time of the census were living on Saipan, 1,225 out of the total 1,242.

A Majority of them lived in District 1 (467) and District 3 (432).

1,128 of the 1,169 total Palauans in the CNMI in 2010 lived on Saipan, with a majority of them or 444 in District 1.

As for Asian residents, Filipinos comprised 70.67 percent of the total Asian population in 2010 and 35.29 percent of the total CNMI population.

There were 19,017 Filipinos in the CNMI in 2010, 17,285 were on Saipan; 950 on Tinian; and 782 on Rota.

5,151 or 29.80 percent of the total Filipinos on Saipan resided in District 1; 2,863 or 16.56 percent, District 2; 6,758 or 39.09 percent, District 3; 1,047 or 6.05 percent, District 4 and 1,466 or 8.48 percent, District 5.