CATHOLIC STATISTICS

Press, Volume L, Issue 14916, 14 March 1914, Page 15

CATHOLIC STATISTICS

Tho "English Catholic Directory for 1914 gives the Catholic population of England and Wales as 2,100,446, as compared with 1,793,038 last year. These figures may be regarded as reliable, for returns are made io the bishops of the numbers in the Catholic congregations, tho infant baptisms, the marriages, and tho conversions, and these particulars are in nearly all cases fully set forth at the end ot the records for the different dioceses. The Government returns of marriages in Catholic churches are also given. The number of conversions mado during tho year is stated as follows:—Westminster, 1359; Birmingham, return not given; Liverpool, 1102; Clifton, 1*89; Hexham and Newcastle, 931; Leeds, 637; Middlesbrough, 138; Newport, 200; Northampton, 253; Nottingham, return not given: Plymouth, 190; Portsmouth, 310; Salford, return not given; Shrewsbury, 262: Southwark, 911; and Mcnevia, 29. Total for the twelve dioceses for which figures are given. 6322. The estimate of tho Catholic population of Scotland as compared with last year's shows a decline. This year it is 518,969; last year it stood'at 547,336. For Ireland the same figures have been given in both years, namely 3,242,670.

Altogether the Catholic population of the British Empire in Eurooe numbers 3.500.526; it: Asia. 2,288.898"; in Africa. •Wr?,9r,5: in America. 3,271.358; and in Australia, 1J54.500. Tho total Cr.tboiic population of tbo British Empire is "therefore 13,336.565. The general population is 417,148,000. The number of Catholics in the United States and the American possessions of the Pacific is 24,189,941. The total of the Catholics in English-speaking countries is therefore 37,576,506. Tho

Catho jc population of tho ivorld is estimated at 293,734,824.