High population growth rates of 2.07 (2014 est.) combined with rural-urban migration place increasing pressure on water, sanitation, housing, education and health services in urban areas. However, a 79% majority still live in rural areas, and overall population density is just 17 people per square kilometer.
In terms of ethnicity, 95% of citizens are ethnically Melanesian with the remainder mostly Polynesian or Micronesian. The age-structure is significantly bottom-heavy with a youth dependency ratio alarmingly high at 70%.