THE FRENCH CENSUS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1335, 12 January 1912, Page 5

THE FRENCH CENSUS.

INCREASE OP 349,000 IN FIVE YEARS. Bj Tcleerauh—Press Association-Oopyrlcht (Kec. January 11, 9.30 p.m.) Paris, .January 11. Tho census returns show the population of France to bo 39,500,000, being an increase of 349,000 during five years. There has been a continual rural migration to the large cities. The population of l'aris is 2,888,110. BIRTHS AND DEATHS. Tlitre is nothing reassuring in tlie latest French vital statistics (says tho New York "I'ost" of December 7). figures for tho first .six months of the present year indicate that at tho end of 1911 the population of France will bo -10,000 less man at tho end of 1910. Briefly summarised, the report shows 14,000 fewer births and 26J000 more deaths than during the corresponding period of a year ago, and a net diminution in tho total population of 18,270. Tho total number of deatlis was 404.275, tho total number of births, 385,999. Tho number of marriages has slightly decreased, as has tho numbr of divorces, although in this case by onlv 71 decrees. Once again Brittany shows 'itself as tho region of large families. Tho Department of Finistere, with a total population of 795,000, has a much higher natality than i? ™ ( J uc hQ s "du-Rhono, which has apprecimi :5 " c 531110 P°P , Jat i °n, namelv, 765,000. the figures are: Births, Finisbere, 11,400: Bouches-dn-Rhone, 8000. The Girondc, with a still greater population—B23,ooo— has still fewer births, 6300. The two i SI 1 Departments of the Cotes-du-Nord and Ile-et-Vilaine, also with much smaller populations, considerably surpass tho Girondo in this respect. In another instance tho births in tho Department of the tiers are barely moro than half those in.the Norman Department of Eure-et-Loire, winch lias only 10 per cent, greater