Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/743

 RELIGION— INSTRUCTION 691

In 1910 there were 3,680,790 males and 3,742,994 females, or 98 males for eyery 100 females. In 1919 there were 3,749,620 males, 3,827,407 females. Of the population in 1910 (exclusive of children under 2 years of age), 2,833,334 spoke French only, 3,220,662 Flemish only, 81,415 German only, 871,283 French and Flemish, 74,993 French and German, 8,652 Flemish and German, and 52,547 spoke all three languages.

As a result of the Treaty of Versailles the districts of Eupen and Malmedy hare come under Belgian sovereignty,

Vital statistics for 3 years :— /

-

Marriagei

Birth*

Death*

Increase or

decrease of births

over deaths

1917 1918 1319

32,974 43,558 97,084

86,975

S5.056

1.'«.23*

- 38,149

- 72.284 -f- 15,150

Bruges.

. 53,489

Alost.

. 35,864

Ostend.

. 45,973

Tournai

. 35,618

Verviers

. 44,118

St. Nicolas

. 34,272

Louvain

. 40,069

Namur.

. 31,681

Seraing.

. 37,274

Charleroi

. 28,011

Courtrai

. 36,855

Mons.

. 26,749

Emigration in 1919, 57,758, ot whom 55,535 departed for European countries.

Immigration iu 1919, 50,043, of whom 48,157 came from European countries.

The most important towns, with population on December 31, 1919 : —

Brussels and

suburbs 1. . 685,268 Antwerp (Anvers). 322,857 Li^ge. . . 166,697 Ghent (Gand). 165,655 Mechlin (Malines). 59,869

1 The suburbs comprise 8 distinct communes, viz., Anderlecht, Etterbeek, Ixelles, Laeken, Molenbeek St. Jean, St. Qilles, St. Josse-ten-Noode, Schaerbeek.

Religion.

Of the inhabitants professing a religion the majority is Roman Catholic. But no inquisition on the profession or faith is now made at the censuses, and therefore, the last available figures, those of 1891, are the only clue to the numbers of the three dominant faiths. According to these there were : — Protestants and Anglicans 27,900 ; Jews, 13,200. There are, however, statistics concerning the clergy, and according to these there were in 1920 : — Roman Catholic higher clergy 85 ; inferior clergy, 5,946 ; Protestant pastors, 21 ; Jews (rabbis and ministers) 15. The State does not interfere in any way with the internal affairs of either Catholic or Protestant Churches. There is full religious liberty, and part of the income of the ministers of all denominations is paid from the national treasury.

In 1920 there were six Roman Catholic dioceses, 204 deaneries, 3,679 Catholic churches and chapels, 6 large and 11 small seminaries.

The Protestant (Evangelical) Church is under a synod.

Instruction.

Of the four universities Ghent and Liege are State institutions, Brussels and Louvain free. In 1919-20 Brussels had 1,644 students ; Ghent, 1,006 ; Liege, 2,656 ; and Louvain, 2,783.