THE IRISH CENSUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14729, 11 July 1911, Page 9

THE IRISH CENSUS.

DEPOPULATION ARRESTED.

[from our OWN CORRESPONDENT.] London, Juno 2. With the publication of the Irish census returns, the preliminary result of the 1911 census for the United Kingdom is com- • plete. The figures are :— England and Wales, 36,075,269 (increase, 3,547~426); Scotland, 4,759,621 (increase, 287,418); Ireland, 4,391,951 (decrease, 76,824). Total population, 45,216,741; (increase 3,758,020). -The Irish census is the most satisfactory since 1841, and though the decline in the population has not altogether ceased, it has been so materially checked that the 1911 figures are quite good when compared with 1901. Ireland's population of. 4,381,951 is divided into 2,186,804 males and 2,195,147 females. For the first timo sinco 1841 one of the provinces—records an increase, which is unique for Ireland. The provincial figures are: Leinster, 1,160,328 (increase, 7499); Munster, 1,033,085 (decrease, 40,103); Ulster, 1,578,572 (decrease, 4254); and Connaught, 609,966 (decrease, 39,966). 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. Now that this has been still further reduced to 76,824 augurs well for the future. The check now recorded must be attributed to the settlement of tho land question, tho provision of cottages and plots, for agricultural j labourers, and the better outlook generally.

Unlike Great Britain, a religious census is taken in Ireland, and in view of the position of Ulster in realtion to the Home Rule controversy the result of ■ the 1911 enumeration is of peculiar interest. Taking Ireland as a whole, the denominations (Jews excepted) stand as follows in 1911: —Roman Catholics, 3,238,656 (decrease, 70,000); Anglicans 575,489 (decrease, 5600); Presbyterians, 439.876 (decrease, 3400) ; Methodists, 61,806 (decrease, 200); other persuasions, 57,718 (decrease, 1432.) The Jews number 5101. Taking the four principal denominations, the percentage of the total population is as follows: Roman Catholics, 73.9 per cent.; Anglicans, 13.1 per cent. ; Presbyterians, ten per rent.; Methodists, 1.4 per cent. Of the 1,134,889 Protestants in all Ireland 885,033 are in Ulster. The Roman Catholics in Ulster number 690,134, leaving a Protestant majority of 194,889. A considerable section of Ulster Protestants, however, especially among the Presbyterians who number 421,566, are Home Rulers.