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increase to be the same as during the decade 1871-81,
was 238,997, being an increase of 9,431 on the previous
year's population.
Births—Birth-rate—Bate of Aaturol Increase.—The
total births registered during the year numbered 8,979,
4,599 of males and 4,380 of females. The number of
births occurring in the several sub-districts will be found
compared in Table I., Appendix. The birth-rate
calculated from the total births registered and the foregoing
estimated population, was 37.57 per 1,000 persons
of all ages. The rate of natural increase, represented by
the excess of births over deaths, was 19.77 per 1,000.
The birth-rate was higher than it had been for four years,
and the rate of natural increase than it had been for five
years.
Deaths, Death-rate.—The total deaths registered
during the year numbered 4,266, 2,158 of males and
2,108 of females. The death-rate was 17.85 per 1,000 of
the estimated population, giving a slight apparent
increase on the previous year's mortality. It should be
remembered however that 53 weeks' deaths are included
in the returns for 1884, an event which happens every
fifth year in order to avoid taking only a portion of the
final week into reckoning. If this be allowed for, the
death-rate remains almost identical with that of 1883.
The birth-rates, death-rates, and rates of natural
increase of the past and ten preceding years are
exhibited in the following table:—