Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/881

 RELIGION — INSTRUCTION — PAUPERISM, ETC. 759

Of the births in 1910, 11*1 per cent, were illegitimate. In 1907, there were 662 divorces ; in 1908, 651 ; in 1909, 734 ; in 1910, 749 ; in 1911, 736.

Emigrants, chiefly to the United States, 7,890 in 1907 ; 4,558 in 1908; 6,782 in 1909 ; 8,890 in 1910 and 8,303 in 1911.

Religion.

The established religion of Denmark is the Lutheran; which was intro- duced as early as 1536, the Church revenue being at that time seized by the Crown, to be delivered up to the university and other religious and educational establishments. The affairs of the National Church are under the superin- tendence of seven bishops, the Bishop of Roeskilde being metropolitan. The bishops have no political character. Complete religious toleration is extended to every sect, and no civil disabilities attach to Dissenters.

According to the census of 1901 there were 2,436,084 Protestants, 5,373 Roman Catholics (under a Vicar Apostolic resident in Copenhagen), 106 Greek Catholics, 3,476 Jews, 4,501 other or of no confession.

Instruction.

Elementary education has been widely diffused in Denmark since the be- ginning of the last century, and in 1814 it was made compulsory. The school age is from 7 to 14. The public schools, maintained by communal rates, are with exception of a few middle-class schools, free. Of public elementary schools there are about 3,422 (50 in the capital, 147 in other towns, and 3,225 in rural districts), with 376,696 pupils in the year 1911 (5 of these communal schools are grammar-schools, and 71 Mellemskoler). For higher instruction there are furthermore : a veterinary and agricultural college at Copenhagen with 31 professors and teachers and about 500 pupils; 19 agricultural or horticultural schools ; 80 folkchdj skoler or popular high schools (adult schools with about 8,000 pupils) ; 41 grammar schools (14 Government, 27 private) ; a college of pharmacy (founded 1892) with 7 teachers and 72 students ; a Royal academy of arts (founded 1754) with 13 teacners* and 350 pupils ; a Polytechnic Institution (founded 1829) with 41 professors and teachers and about 800 students ; 110 Mellemskoler or middle-class schools, and 41 grammar schools. The higher schools for children (grammar-schools and Mellemskoler), together with other non- municipal schools in 1911, had an attendance of 48,300 pupils. The folkehojskoler are all private, but to them and the agricultural schools the state annually makes a grant of about 26,000Z. To the Mellemskoler grants are made amounting annually to about 25,000Z. The University of Copen- hagen founded in 1479, has 5 faculties, to all of which women are admitted on^qual terms with men. It has 101 professors and teachers, and about 3,000 students.

Pauperism and Old Age Pensions.

Ordinary poor relief is regulated by the law of April 9, 1891, under which in 1901, 101,915 (4-16 per cent, of the population) were relieved at a cost of 398,490Z.