78
FRANCE.
of 1772 ; but the numerical calculation of 1784, made by order of Necker, was again nothing but a rough estimate. The subse- quent numbers were obtained from regular census returns : —
Year
Population
Increase during the period
Annual average of increase
1700
19,669,320
1762
21,769,163
2,099,843
55,259
1772
22:672,000
902,837
90,283
1784
24,800,000
2,128,000
177,333
1801
27,349,003
2,549,003
149,941
1806
29,107,425
1.758.422
351,685
1821
30,461,875
1,334.450
90,295
1826
31,858,937
1,397,062
279,412
1831
32,569,223
710,286
142,057
1836
33,540,910
971,687
194,337
1841
34,230,178
676,809
135,362
1846
35,400,486
1,170,308
254,062
1851
35,783,170
382,684
75,537
1856
36,039,364
256,194
51,238
1861
37,386,161 |
764,309 736,113*
152,862
1866
38,067,094
680,933
136,186
It is calculated that the loss of population to France in the first five months after the declaration of war against Germany, middle of July to middle of December, 1870, was upwards of 500,000. The drain upon the population caused by former wars, undertaken during the reio-n of Napoleon III., and the cost of the same, are stated as follows, in a report of the British Secretary of Legation in France, dated July, 1869 :—
Wars
Cost
Loss of Men
Crimea ..... Italy ..... China and Mexico .
Total.
£ 340,000,000
60,000,000 40,000,000
80,000 60,000 65,000
440,000,000
205,000
1 If to this drain be added the increase in the standing army,' says the report, ' it can scarcely be wondered at that the population should be in a stationary condition, and that such a state should have seriously affected, for some time, the national prosperity.'
There are 9 million families in France, 1 million of which are in easy circumstances. Of the 8 millions belonging to the industrial and working classes, 3 millions are inhabitants of towns. Whereas
- Increase through annexation.
