mall, their population proportion is trending upwards, and will exceed nine percent by the year 2000. One contributing factor to this trend is the emigration of young adults from the island during their prime working years, followed by their return to the island during their retirement years.
Many persons in older age groups tend to require assistance in their conduct of physical activities. Generally,
the proportion of individuals requiring such assistance increases as individuals age. The proportions of individuals requiring physical assistance is presented in Table 4.2, which may be found on the following page.
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Age Group 1970 1980 1990 2000
0 16 10,600 13,200 14,300 18,000
17 49 23,200 29,900 31,900 31,700
50 54 2,300 2,900 3,400 3,700
55 59 2,800 2,500 2,700 3,000
60 64 1,700 1,900 2,100 2,200
65+ 3,300 4,500 5,100 6,000
Total 43,900 54,900 59,500 64,500
(Ministry of Government and Commercial
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As the data presented in the table indicate, the proportion of individuals requiring physical assistance more than doubles in each instance from 45 to 65 years old, 65 to 75 years old, and 75 to 85 years old. Where an individual requires assistance only for those physic...