Estimating Population Size for Micro-Minority Population Groups: Denominator Estimation for the Measurement of Mortality Patterns among U.S. Pacific Islanders: 1992-2005

Sela V. Panapasa, University of Michigan
James W. McNally, University of Michigan

Like many small populations, measuring health disparities among Pacific Islanders is limited by the lack of reliable population estimates. The lack of baseline denominator information is unfortunate, as small populations, such as the Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) groups can face significant health challenges, particularly in terms of endemic and chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Without denominator population estimates, we cannot accurately examine either the risks of the disease process or the potential cost of disease to the health care system. This paper presents a statistical approach to estimating NHOPI population size on an annual basis, and also presents an analysis of the impact of biracial and multiracial self identification in the 2000 Census of population. We present a series of re-weighted population estimates that identify the growth of the NHOPI population between 1990 and 2000 from the perspective of the 1990 and 2000 definitions.