Explanation:

- The population growth rate is 5% per annum.

- The current population of the village is 18,522.

- We need to find the population 3 years ago.

- Use the formula for reverse compound growth:

$$ \text{Past Population} = \frac{\text{Present Population}}{(1 + \text{Growth Rate})^n} $$

- For 3 years with a growth rate of 5%, the formula becomes:

$$ \frac{18,522}{(1.05)^3} $$

- Calculate \( (1.05)^3 \) which gives approximately 1.157625.

- Divide 18,522 by 1.157625 to find the past population.

- This calculation gives us approximately 16,000.

- Option 3 (16,000) is correct.

- Options 1, 2, and 4 do not match the calculated value.