MOST people in Fiji live in the Ba Province, according to the 2017 Population and Housing Census released by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics.
Ba’s population of 247,708 accounts for 28 per cent of the country’s population. The province recorded the highest increase in urban dwellers from 120,998 in 2007 to 165,411 when the census was carried last year.
Fiji’s urban population spiked from 428,846 in the last census to 494,252 while the rural citizens declined from 412,425 to 390,635. The 2017 census report said the rise in the urban population was due to the extension of town boundaries.
Naitasiri’s population is 177,678 while Rewa’s population, which includes Suva is 108,016.
Naitasiri’s population increased by 13,664 in the last 10 years while Rewa’s population which has 86.5 per cent urban dwellers increased by 4,720.
The Naitasiri province includes some parts of the Suva-Nausori corridor.
Some provinces recorded growths in their rural population and these were Bua, Kadavu, Naiatasiri, Namosi, Rewa, Serua and Tailevu.
Those whose population declined were Ba, Cakaudrove, Lau, Lomaiviti, Macuata, Nadroga/Navosa, Ra and Rotuma.
Rotuma’s population has decreased by 408 from 2002 to 1594.
