Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1362

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SERVIA

Movement of FoniLATioN.

Year

Marriages

1906

27,978

1907

29,565

1908

25,890

1909

26,641

1910

29,932

1911

30.453

Births

112,973

109,490 103,903 110,226 112,235 107,229

Deaths

65,851 62,451 66,924 83,350 64,450 64,415

Surplus

47,122. 47,039 36,979 26,876 47,785 42,814

There are no trustworthy statistics of emigration and immigration.

Religion.

The state religion of Servia is Greek-Orthodox. According to the census of 1910 there were of the total population :— Greek-Orthodox, 2,881,220; Roman Catholics, 8,435 ; Protestants, 799 ; Jews, 5,997 ; Mohammedan Turks and Gipsies, 14,435; other religions, 915.

The Church is governed by the Synod of five Bishops, the Archbishop of Belgrade as Metropolitan of Servia being president, but all the ecclesiastical officials are under the control of the Minister of Education and Public Worship. There is unrestricted liberty of conscience. In 1910 there were 771 churches and chapels, and 51 monasteries; the clergy numbered 1,043, and the monks, 77. The property of the churches was valued (1910) at 18,701,114 dinars, and of the monasteries at 8,435,083 dinars ; the revenue of the churches was 728,216 dinars, and of the monasteries, 300,302 dinars ; the expenditure of the churches, 611,032 dinars, and of the monasteries, 250,156 dinars.

Instruction.

Elementary education in Servia is compulsory, and, in all the primary schools under the Ministry of Education, it is free. Of the total population in 1900, 423,433 (16-99 per cent.) could read and write. In 1909 there were 1,296 elementary schools with 2,584 teachers and 138,434 pupils (109,433 boys and 29,001 girls). There were, of a higher grade, 20 secondary schools with 393 teachers and 7,317 pupils; 1 theological school with 24 teachers and 3i3 students ; 5 normal schools with 56 teachers and 454 students ; 4 special schools with 34 teachers and 321 pupils ; 3 superior schools foi girls with 68 teachers and 1,001 pupils. Belgrade University, founded in 1838, had 78 professors and 1,022 (Winter). For 1912 the expenditure on the elementary schools was 4,228,002 dinars ; on the secondary schools, 2,455,454; on the theological school, 267,049 dinars; on the University, 710,671 dinars.

The Government has a Military Academy. There are several private schools, elementary and other, and an orphanage supported by voluntary contributions.

For elementary schools the State pays the teachers' salaries, and the muni- cipalities provide for all other expenditure. The cost of the other public schools is borne entirely by the State.

Justice, Crime, and Pauperism.

The judges are appointed by the king. There are 27 courts of first instance in Servia, a court of appeal, a court of cassation, and a tribunal of commerce.