Editing Rotuma (section)

== Demographics ==

Although the island has been politically part of Fiji since 1881, Rotumans are Polynesians and their culture more closely resembles that of the [[Polynesia]]n islands to the east, most noticeably [[Tahiti]], [[Tonga]], [[Samoa]], [[Futuna (Wallis and Futuna)|Futuna]], and [[Wallis (island)|Uvea]]. Because of their Polynesian appearance and distinctive [[Rotuman language|language]], Rotumans now constitute a recognizable minority group within the Republic of Fiji. The great majority of Rotumans (9,984 according to the 2007 Fiji census) now live elsewhere in Fiji, with 1,953&nbsp;Rotumans remaining on Rotuma.

{|class="wikitable"
|+ Population in Rotuma<ref>{{cite web |title=Rotuman Language Educational Booklet |url=https://www.mpp.govt.nz/assets/Language-Weeks-2021/Rotuman/Rotuman-Educational-Resource-2021.pdf |publisher=Ministry for Pacific Peoples |access-date=4 September 2023}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#cfb;"|Year
! scope="col" style="background:#cfb;"|Population
|-
|1986 ||style="text-align:right;"|2588
|-
|1996 ||style="text-align:right;"|2619
|-
|2007 ||style="text-align:right;"|1893
|-
|2017 ||style="text-align:right;"|1594
|}

[[Rotumans]] are staunchly conservative culturally and maintain their customs in the face of changes brought about by increased contact with the outside world; social trends which have emerged elsewhere have remained entirely unwelcome in Rotuma.  As recently as 1985, some 85 percent of Rotumans voted against opening the island up to [[tourism]], concerned about the impact of an influx of secular tourist outsiders. [[P&O]] Cruises landed on the island only twice in the 1980s. Rotumans' inherent conservatism has led to a strict form of sociodemographic preservation. [[Indo-Fijians|Indians]] and Chinese have no presence in Rotuma, unlike other [[Fiji|Fijian islands]], where these groups have managed to acquire property and establish themselves; this is because in Rotuma landholdings are held exclusively for the use and benefit of the island's own [[Rotumans|Rotuman people]].