2024 Easwegian Census Results

 2024 EASWEGIAN CENSUS RESULTS

Published on 10 May 2024

The National Electoral Commission under the direction of the Grand Office and Ministry of Home Affairs conducted a national gathering of census data throughout March in order to ascertain the demographics of the Common Union of Easway. These statistics help the Co-operative Government build for the future. This census was mandatory to be undertaken by all able residents of the Easwegian Free Realm, that is the Easwegian Svalbard Isles. 

The National Electoral Commission is happy to announce that we received 450 forms, of which all were completed correctly and to a high standard. The Spokesperson of the National Electoral Commission, His Worship Jaani vi Escharnisjaane, alongside the Grand Councillor of the Easwegian Common Union, His Eminence Suqeruli Bai, wish to thank all those who filled in the census. Your patriotic action has greatly helped Easway expand its cultural knowledge and how we plan public policy going forward!

The following questions were asked, with the results given in detail:

Q1: How old are you?

The average age in Easway is 26.58 or 27.

Age Group

M

F

Other

Under 17

26

11

4

17-24

145

63

14

25-42

40

85

43-65

30

20

65+

7

5

16 or under - 41 (9.11%)

17 to 24 - 222 (49.33%)

25 to 42 - 125 (27.78%)

43 to 64 - 50 (11.11%)

65 and above - 12 (2.67%)

Q2: What is your sex/gender?

Q3: Which ethnic group do you identify with most strongly?

 Traditional populations

The traditional populations include the major groups that formed the Easwegian Commonwealth, the historic polity which controlled large portions of the European Arctic from the 12th to the 19th century. The Commonwealth was an independent state from the late 15th century onwards after the fall of the Novgorod Republic. Major ethnic groups included the Ezaari, Norwegians, Pomors and the Saami & Nenets. The latter mentioned Saami & Nenets have been grouped together, due to their small populations in the Easwegian Free Realm when set apart. In total, the traditional populations total 313 people or 69.56% of the population. 

Ezaari

The largest ethnic group by plurality in Easway are the Ezaari, with 150 (33.33%) people having reported themselves as such. The Ezaari are a diverse Yeniseian-Turkic speaking nomadic Eurasian people. They are closely related to, although distinct from, the Turkic and Uralic peoples. 

Norwegians

The second largest ethnic group are the Norwegians, with 92 (22.44%) people having reported themselves as such. Norwegian sailors have a long history interacting with both the Ezaari and the Pomors and formed a core part of the Easwegian Commonwealth's maritime economy. In 1478, Norwegians were present at the Proclamation of an Easwegian Commonwealth, and were involved in the establishment of Easwegian churches.  

Pomors

The Pomors are the third largest ethnic group in Easway, with 51 (11.33%) people having reported themselves as such. The Pomors, meaning seasider in Russian, speak a dialect of the Russian language called Pomorskie. Originating from the White Sea as independent seafaring merchants, they were among the first people to chart Svalbard and create a trade between Novgorod and the expanding Norwegian state. Allying with various Uralic clans, the Pomors revolutionised interstate maritime co-operation and were crucial in building old Novgorod Easway. Allying with the Ezaari and Norwegian sailors, the Pomors helped establish the Easwegian Commonwealth in 1478, first led by Marfa Boretskaya, and joined in the 100 years war against the expanding Muscovy. After the Commonwealth lost most of its territory and retreated westwards in 1580, the Pomors stayed true to the Commonwealth and negotiated new trade routes with Norway. Since the Russian revolution and the enactment of Stalinism, the Pomors population has greatly dwindled following persecution of both themselves and many native populations around them, who were forced into cities, a consequence of Industrialisation and more importantly capital-state power. Since the establishment of modern Easway in 2017 and the incorporation of Pomoresia in 2020, Easway continues to stand up for the Pomors, just as the Pomors stood up for Easway.

Saami & Nenets

The Saami & Nenets predominately inhabit mainland Biarmia, surrounding the Arctic Ocean, although there are also a population within Easwegian Svalbard. In total, 20 (4.44%) people reported themselves as either Saami or Nenets. The Saami & Nenets are a closely related Uralic people who inhabit areas from the Norwegian Sea to the Ural Mountains. Though separated and often displaced today due to actions taken by larger states in separating them between international borders, the Saami and Nenets alongside many Uralic people once inhabited a massive area and travelled in between freely.

Diaspora

There is a notable number of people in Easway who are not of the traditional population that made up the historic Easwegian Commonwealth. In total, the diaspora population forms 137 people, or 30.44% of the population.

The most common diaspora group are Thai people, with 21 (4.67%) having reported back as such. Other groups in order of most common to least common include Filipinos at 19 (4.22%), Indians at 17 (3.78%), Indonesians at 15 (3.33%), Nepalis at 14 (3.11%), Germans at 12 (2.67%), Irish at 10 (2.22%), Vietnamese at 9 (2%), Chinese at 7 (1.56%), Arabs at 5 (1.11%), Brits at 4 (0.89%), Black people at 2 (0.44%) and Ukrainians at 2 (0.44%). 

It should be noted that some ethnic groups of certain origins, such as Turks, Finns and Romanians associate themselves with one of the traditional Easwegian ethnic groups and picked accordingly.

Pan-ethnic statistics 

Nordic European - 327

150 Ezaari, 92 Norwegians, 51 Pomors, 20 Saami & Nenets, 10 Irish, 4 British

Mainland European - 14

12 Germans, 2 Ukrainians

ASEAN and Oceanian - 64

21 Thai, 19 Filipinos, 15 Indonesians, 9 Vietnamese

South Asian - 31

17 Indians, 14 Nepalis

East Asian - 7

7 Chinese

West Asian - 5

5 Arabs

African and Caribbean - 2

1 Eritrean, 1 Jamaican

Q2: Do you consider yourself of mixed ethnicity?

Q3 on mixed ethnicity was framed as a yes or no question. Due Easway’s polyethnic populace and tight-knit communities, there are a notable amount of people who identify as mixed ethnicity. In total, the majority of people reported to not be of mixed ethnicity, by 301 people or 66.89% of the population. People who reported to be of mixed ethnicity totals 149 people or 33.11% of the population.

The exact ethnic makeup of someone who identifies as mixed ethnicity varies among families and communities, and is often an individual and personal identity. Therefore, the census did not ask additional questions on those who report mixed ethnicity.

Q5: Which religion, if any, do you identify by? Please type no religion if none.

Religious affiliation in Easway is diverse and reflects the polyethnic makeup of the Easwegian nation. The Common Union of Easway is officially a secular state.

In total, 311 respondents (69.11%) reported they are in some way as religious, spread across 8 faiths/denominations, whereas 139 respondents (30.89%) reported no religion. 

The most common response by plurality is no religion, whereby 139 respondents (30.89%) reported as such. The most common faith by pluarity is Eastern Catholicism, with 71 respondents (15.78%) reporting as such. By combining denominations, it can be seen that Christianity forms in total 197 people, or 43.78% of the population.

Ethnoreligious makeup

Eastern or Roman Catholicism - 71 (15.78%)

Ezaari - 39 (54.93%) Filipinos - 15 (21.13%) Irish - 6 (8.45%) Germans - 4 (5.63%) Pomors - 3 (4.23%) Ukrainians - 2 (2.82%) Indonesians - 1 (1.41%)

The demographics of Eastern/Roman Catholics are largely evenly divided between the municipalities of Boriopa Centrum and Essrina. Major settlements where Eastern/Roman Catholicism is practiced includes Tunheim prefecture (Boriopa Centrum) and Baizjillalldëng township (Essrina).

Eastern Orthodoxy - 62 (13.78%)

Pomors - 47 (75.81%) Ezaari - 14 (22.58) African and Carribean - 1 (1.61%)

The demographics of Eastern Orthodoxy is strongly associated with the ethnic groups of the Pomors and less commonly the Ezaari, which makes up over 98% of those practicing. Within the Easwegian Free Realm, there also exists one Eritrean who practices the faith. The majority of Eastern Catholics reside in the municipality of Pomoresia on Hopen island’s New Barentsburg township. A minority also resides within the Pomozaarina enclave of southern Tunheim, Boriopa Centrum.

Lutheranism - 53 (11.78%)

Norwegians - 44 (83.02%) Saami & Nenets - 5 (9.43%) Germans - 4 (7.55%)

The demographics of Lutheranism, a current of Protestantism, makes up a significant portion of residents of the municipality of Urdport, alongside the Hopen township of Rijp. It is largely followed by the Norwegian populace, alongside a minority of Saami & Nenets, as well as German expats. Both of Urdport’s Kvalrossbukta and Steinflya townships have a notable population practicing the faith.

Folk religions - 37 (8.22%)

Saami & Nenets - 15 (40.54%) Ezaari - 11 (29.73) Indonesians - 3 (8.11%) Chinese - 3 (8.11%) Filipino - 2 (5.41%) Pomors - 1 (2.70%) Thai - 1 (2.70%) Vietnamese - 1 (2.70%)

The majority of those who follow Folk religions, a diverse collection of non-monolithic faiths, which often varies across distinct cultures and ethnic groups, live on Bear Island. Places with large congregations of residents practicing Folk religions include the prefectures which border near the Bear Island Highlands, including Greater Liyvazun, Steinflya and Kvalrossbukta. 

Hinduism - 36 (8%)

Indians - 15 (41.67%) Nepalis - 12 (33.33%) Indonesians - 5 (13.89%) Ezaari - 3 (8.33%) African and Carribean - 1 (2.78%)

The majority of Indian and Nepali practicing Hindus live in all three prefectures of Boriopa Centrum. All Indonesian practicing Hindus live in the municipality of Essrina, alongside the one Jamaican practicing Hindu.

Buddhism - 27 (6%)

Thai - 18 (66.67) Vietnamese - 3 (11.11%) Ezaari - 2 (7.41%) Indians - 2 (7.41%) Chinese - 1 (3.7%) Nepali - 1 (3.7%)

A majority of those practicing Buddhism live on Bear Island, with notable congregations in the capital of Boriopa Centrum.

Islam - 14 (3.11%)

Arabs - 5 (35.71%) Indonesians - 4 (28.57%) Ezaari - 3 (21.43%) Thai - 2 (14.29%)

Location showed no common trend.

Christianity (other) - 11 (2.44%)

British - 2 (18.18%) Filipinos - 2 Indonesians - 2 (18.18%) (18.18%) Norwegians - 2 (18.18%) Ezaari - 1 (9.09%) Irish - 1 (9.09%) Vietnamese - 1 (9.09%)

Location showed no common trend.

The following questions were optional. There are two mandatory questions at the bottom.

Q6: What is your sexual orientation?

The sexual orientation question, like the following questions, was optional, and as such 348 (77.33%) out of 450 respondents gave an answer. 102 respondents (22.67%) declined to give an answer.

The following list shall only include those who expressed their sexuality on the form, and shall exclude the 22.67% of people who declined to answer the question.

Heterosexual (Straight) - 233 (66.95%)

Homosexual (Gay/Lesbian) - 62 (17.82%)

Other/unspecified - 31 (8.92%)

Bisexual - 22 (6.32%)

Q7: Are you in education, employed work, or both?

Out of a total of 450 respondents, 330 (73.33%) people chose to answer this question, whereas 120 (26.67%) of respondents declined to answer.

The following list shall only include those who gave an answer to the question.

Employed work - 141 (42.73%)

Education - 119 (36.06%)

Both - 60 (18.18%)

Not in education, employment or training - 10 (3.03%)

Q8: How do you usually travel to education or work?

This question received 390 respondents. This question strictly asks which means of transport was most common for an individual and it did not factor in multiple means of transport. That is to say, someone may travel by vehicle for half of the journey and walk the other half. This question simply asks which mode of transport does an individual use that factors into their travel the most.

On foot - 160 (45.71%)

Personal, family or state car (including taxi services) - 127 (36.29%)

Bus or coach - 69 (19.71%)

Bicycle - 20 (6.57%)

Train - 7 (2%)

Horse, sleigh dog or other animal - 7 (2%)

The following questions were mandatory.

Q9: What type of accommodation are you living in?

A mandatory question, homelessness was included within the options. The census found that homelessness has been completely erradicated within Easway. In fact, the Constitution of Easway states that an individual having accommodation is a legal requirement upon the Easwegian Government. 

It was also found that the majority of Easwegians live with their family or in shared accommodation. This reflects the communal culture and the relative youth of the nation. Living by oneself or with only a partner is rarer in Easway.

Living with family - 203 (45.11%)

Shared accommodation - 122 (27.11%)

Living on own - 87 (19.33%)

Living together with a partner/spouse - 37 (8.22%)

Q10: Does any individual(s) living in your accommodation own said property?

Of a total of 450 respondents, 312 (69%) stated that no individual within their property held ownership of it. 138 (31%) respondents stated that at least one individual within their property held ownership of it. These statistics reflect Easway’s high rate of property owned by the municipality, commonwealth or State.