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The first results of the general Population Census 2008 According to the general population census, the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands had 13 484 inhabitants on 21 st July, 2008. The figure for the 2003 general population census was 14 944, thus recording a fall of 9.8% in the population between the two censuses. This change results from a combination of two factors: the natural increase (the difference between the number of births and the number of deaths) and net migration (the difference between the number of people entering the Territory to reside in it and the number of people leaving the Territory to reside elsewhere, including in metropolitan France or New Caledonia). Over the intercensal period 2003-2008, the natural balance remained positive (+ 750). On the other hand, net migration is strongly negative (- 2210) resulting in a reduction of 1460 people. The natural increase which contributed over the period 1996-2003 to a growth of the population of 218 people on average per annum fell to 150 people over the period 2003-2008. Whereas over the period 1996-2003 one had observed an average net loss of 106 inhabitants per annum, during the five last years this annual average loss was of 442 people, that is to say, four times more. In proportion, the population decline is stronger on the island of Futuna (- 12,6%) than on the island of Wallis (- 8,4%). All the districts experienced a decline in population. In Futuna: Alo (- 10,9%) and Sigave (- 15,4%). In Wallis: Hahake (- 4,8%), Hihifo (- 9,0%) and Moulted (- 11,7%). The proportionate settlement of the population between the two islands did not change: two thirds on Wallis and a third on Futuna. Concerning the villages, only two of them kept a natural increase very slightly higher than net migration. They are Gahi and Mala' E (district of Uvea) which saw their population slightly increase (by 6 and 2 inhabitants respectively). In all the other villages, net migration was higher than the natural increase and their population decreased. In many inhabitants, the villages where the fall of population is most marked are Utufua (- 114), Leava (- 104) and Vaitupu (- 104). On the whole, 3 467 residences were listed for the 2008 census. As whole families leave the Territory, one counted 320 vacant housings comprising 9.2% of housing stock. In the main homes, the median number of people who live there declined from 4.8 in 2003 to 4.3 in 2008. Fewer inhabitants and lower average household size are the two major results of the census of the population of 2008.
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