CENSUS STATISTICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7002, 26 April 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

CENSUS STATISTICS.

The Central News learns that, according to the general report on the last census, which will shortly be published, the period from IS7I to ISBI shows a higher birth rate and a lower death rate than any decade since 1840. During the last half year the population of England and-Wales has increased S6 - 9 per cent. Supposing this rate of increase could be maintained, the present population of 25,974,439 would be doubled by 1936. At the date of the last enumeration there were 446 persons to the square mile, each person having on an average 1*43 acre 3. Of the total number of persons enumerated 12,639,902 were males, and 13,334,527 were females. The average fertility of wives of reproductive ages was 256 births to one thousand wives. During the decade 1S"1Sl there was a decline in the proportion of young married persons as compared with the total population. The average age of men when they marry is 27"9, and of women 257 years. The number of males aged five years and upwards who were returned as engaged in some definite occupation was 7,783,646 or 71*5 of the total. In the case of women the number was 3,403,91S 29.4 per cent. The professional classes numbered 647,075. Of these 21,663 were cleraymen of the Church of England, 2059. Roman Catholic priests, and 9734 ministers of other religious communities. The number of persons directly engaged in commerce was 316.565, and in conveyance and storage 663,263. T na agricultural class comprised 1,353,154 persons, being a decline of S'2 per cent, during the last ten years. , Of persons engaged ia industrial occupations there were 6,373,367, or 24-5 per cent, of the entire population returned as engaged in specific occupation. The number of persons who were described by their rank, property, &c, and nit ° r occupation comprised 14.756.575, or 57 P er cent, of the entire population, the females being in the proportion of rather more than two to one of the males. Of these 5,936.50 l were children under 15, but 4,641,190 were over 20 and under 65 years of age—that i£t were in the working prime of life, and J6 were without specified occupation.