pervices Urlice of Healtn rlanning and nesources vepartment. ine document is undated, but the presence of data from 1975 indicates that it must have been prepared in the period of 1977 to 1979 when we received it. It was noted that there are apparent inconsistencies among several of the different tables. For example, Table III--1 gives data for the Marshall Islands for the period 1955-1975 and Table ITI-5 gives data for the infant mortality rate for 1976. In Table III-1, the infant death rate per 1000 births for 1970 through 1975 is given as 28.3, 33.6, 25.4, 46.4, 21.1 and 37.0. However, Table III--5 indicates the infant mortality rate to be only 17.04. We have used the data of Table [1I-1 in the following estimates, because it is more complete and it provides a self-consistent set of data. However, in view of the discrepancies, the results can only be considered as approximations. In my view this makes little real difference in view of the uncertainties in the risk estimating coefficients. There is also a bias built into the data because of the inclusion of Ebye and Majaro in the overall Marshall Island rates. This arises from the different death rates (particularly infants) at these two locations. FWN . « . For the estimates we used the last 5 or 6 year average of the data as being most representative of current conditions. From this, we obtained: Rate of increase of the population — 3.8%/yr. Infant death rate — 3.2% per birth. Overall death rate — 0.54% per year. Birth rate —- 4.2% per year. An affirmative action/equal opportuntly employer