Is it true that the population of the Galapagos Islands has increased from 3,000 in 1970 to about 40,000 today? If so, what is the reason for this massive increase?

zbeckabee

It is one of the few places in the world without an indigenous population. The largest ethnic group is comprised of Ecuadorian Mestizos, the mixed descendants of Spanish colonists and indigenous Native Americans, who arrived mainly in the last century from the continental part of Ecuador. In 1959, approximately 1,000 to 2,000 people called the islands their home. In 1972 a census was done in the archipelago and a population of 3,488 was recorded. By the 1980s, this number had risen to more than 15,000 people, and 2006 estimates place the population around 40,000 people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galapagos_Islands Aug 02 08, 4:29 AM

author

Now, I'm asking this question because I doubt the English Wiki page. For example, the German Wiki page says the population is 19,000 as of 2006. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gal%C3%A1pagos-Inseln Aug 02 08, 2:37 PM

Baloo55th

According to http://www.galapagosislands.com/html/environment.html it's over 20,000 now and 40,000 is expected by 2014. The Galapagos Conservation Trust says 18,000 now. http://www.gct.org/intro.html Aug 02 08, 2:49 PM