THE IRISH FIGURES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14093, 12 July 1911, Page 6

THE IRISH FIGURES.

DEPOPULATION ARRESTED. (FROM OHE own CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, Juno 2. With the publication of tho Irish census returns, the preliminary result of tho 1911 census for the United Kingdom is complete. The figures are: — England nnd Wales, 36,075,269 (in- . crease 3,547,426); Scotland, 4,759,521 (increase 287,418); Ireland, 4,381,951 (decrease 76,824). Total 45,216,741 (in- ] crease 3,758.020). The Irish census is the most satisfactory since 1841, and though' the decline in the population has not alto- , gethor ceased, it has been so materially : checked that the 1911 figures aro quite '. good when compared with 1901. Ire- J inds population of 4,331,951 is divided \ into 2,186,804 males and 2,195,147 < females. For the first time since 1841 one , of the provinces—Leinster—records an { increase, which is unique for Ireland. . The provincial figures are: —Leinster ! 1,160,323 (increase 7499), Munster ' 1,033,085 (decrease 40,103), Ulster \ 1,578,572 (decrease 4254) and Con- , naught 609.966 (decrease 39,906). In '. 1841 Ireland had a' population of 8,196,597. Ten years later this was ' down to 6,574,278, and in 1861 to ' 5,798,967. Each decade showed a big decrease, that for the ten years ending / 1901 being 245,975. That this has X been still further reduced to 76,824 augurs well for the future. The check now recorded must be attributed to the j settlement of the land question, the * provision of cottages and plots for agri- ' cultural labourers, and the better outlook generally. *

Catholics . r !.235.6.-G Wcorcaso. 7O.CO0), Anglicans 57. r >,IS9 (decrease 5600), Prpsbyterians. 439,87(5 (decrease 3400), Methodists 61,800 (decrease 200). othor persuasion? .57,718 (decrease 1432). The Jews numbor 5101. Taking tho fotjr principal denominations, tho jieroentage of the total population is as follows: — Honio.ii Catholics 73.9 r.pr ront., Anglicans 13.i per cont., .Presbytorians 30 per cent., MothodLsts 1.4 por oent. Of tho 1-1:54.889 Protestants in all Ireland, 850,033 arc in Ulster TJie J Roman Catliolics in Ulster number i(i'X),l3-l. leaving a Protestant majority of 1VM,809. A considerable section o"f Ulster Protestants, however, especially among the.'Prcsbytcrions, mlio number 421,566, arc Homo Hulcrs.