Democracy of the RAAN

Abstract

This demographic study is an effort to establish the settlement patterns in the RAAN, especially among the Miskitu and Sumu, following the war (1981-1989). The study has been carried out over a long period in 1991-1992. The initiative was taken by the Bilingual and Intercultural Education Programme in RAAN and carried out in close collaboration with school directors, community judges and health personel. The demographic history is reduced to the war period (1980s). The data has been verified in various ways and some have been updated in the process. So far, only estimations have been available to determine the size of the population in RAAN.  The figures presented will probably be disputed, but the authors feel confident that their data is the most reliable at the moment. Of the urban population (27%), the Miskitu and Mestizo make up the majority (95,2%).  Close to the entire Creole population is urban. The study establishes that the present population of RAAN is 144,984. Of these 84,507 (58,2%) are Miskitu, 53,857 (37, 1%) are Mestizo, 5,064 (3,5%) are Sumu and 1,556 (1,2%) are Creoles. A follow-up study for RAAS is under preparation by the same authors which will provide the total size of each ethnic group in the Autonomous Regions.