Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1142

 786

MEXICO

1

states and Territories

Area, in square miles

Census

Population,

1S79

Census

Population,

1895

Population per square mile, 1895

Pacific States : — contd. Michoacan. Guerrero Oaxaca Chiapas

Total.

Islands ....

Grand Total

22,874 24,996 35,382 27,222

324,768 1,420

661,534 295,590 744,000 205,362

894,763 417,621 884,909 319,599

i 39-1 16-7 25-0 11-7

3,287,920

4,321,038

13-3

767,005

9,908,011

12,619,959

16-4

In 1874 the population was returned at 9,343,470; in 1882 there Avere 5,072,054 males, 5,375,930 females. Of the total population 19 percent, are of pure, or nearly pure, white race, 43 per cent, of mixed race, and 38 per cent, of Indian race. The Indians in 1882 were returned at 3,765,044. Distinctions of race are abolished by the Constitution of 1824. Of the mixed and Indian race only a very small proportion can be regarded as civilised.

The chief cities with their population according to the census of 1895, are :— Mexico (capital), 344,377 ; Guadalajara, 83,870 ; Puebla, 91,917 ; San Luis Potosi, 69,676 ; Guanajuato, 39,337 ; Leon, 90,978 ; Monterey, 56,855 Aguascalientes, 31,619 ; Merida, 36,720 ; Vera Cruz 88,993 ; Oaxaca, 32,641 Morelia, 32,287; Colima, 19,305; Pachuca, 52,189; Jalapa, 18,173 Duraugo, 42,165; Queretaro, 32,790 ; Zacatecas, 40,026; Toluca, 23,648 San Juan Bautista, 27,036.

In 1890 the number of foreigners resident in the capital was 7,215.

The systematic registration of births, marriages, and deaths is defective. The figures given for three years are : —

1893 1894 1895

Births

Marringps Dcatlis

342,791 351,144 383,747

49,750 50,469 53,691

487,931 452,287 391,177

Religion, Instruction, and Justice.

The prevailing religion is the Roman Catholic, but the Church is independ- ent of the State, and there is toleration of all other religions. In 1889 there were 10,112 Roman Catholic churches and chapels and 119 Protestant churches in the Republic. No ecclesiastical body can acquire landed property. On August 12, 1890, there were in the municipality of Mexico 320,143 Catholics and 2,623 Protestants.

In almost all the States education is free and compulsory, but the law has not been strictly enforced. In the municipality of Mexico there were in 1890, 15,268 persons who could read only, and 176,692 persons who could neither