Bali Population Stands at 3.89 Million

(8/23/2010)

The Jakarta Post has highlighted growing population pressures in Bali where the latest census carried out in May 2010 identified a 20% increase in the number of people living in Bali over the past ten years. Latest population estimates put Bali's population at 3.89 million, as compared to the 3.15 million people living here in 2000.

Remarking on the rapid increase, Bali's governor Pastika said: "This is an extraordinary increase. We have been successful with the family planning program to lower the birth rate. Therefore, this situation is due to migration."

Warning that steps must be taken to curb population growth, Pastika alluded to the resulting housing and traffic problems currently plaguing the island.

Acknowledging that little could be done to curb Bali's attractiveness to migrants from other regions in Indonesia, he has called on his expert staff of advisors to propose solutions to curb the rapid growth in population.

The head of Bali's statistic bureau, Ida Komang Wisnu, says population growth has averaged 2.15% per year over the past 10 years. A growth rate of less than 1% per year is deemed more sustainable.