Population reaches a low of about 300, down from about 3,000 in 1838.

What happened

Hezel estimates Kosrae had about 3,000 people in 1838 and only about 300 around 1890, a 90% fall in 50 years, caused by introduced diseases and by infertility from sexually transmitted infections. Eyewitnesses of the 1820s gave lower early figures (Lesson 1,200 at most; Lütke about 800 adults), and the COM-FSM outline puts the low point below 200 in 1880.

Why it matters

Kosrae suffered the steepest population collapse of any island in the region; by 1930 it had recovered to over 900 people.