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270 ECONOMIC INQUIRIES AND STUDIES
to the Royal Statistical Society of London about eighteen
years ago. The lapse of time since then. however.
makes the figures even more decisive and impressive
than they were, just as the close of the century gives
us a more definite period. I trust I shall be excused.
then, for returning to the topic. When your invitation
was received there was a chance that we should by this
time have the exact figures of the American census for
this year, so that it might be-possible to compare actual
progress since 1880 with the rate of progress before
that, but the chance unfortunately has not come off.
Still there are materials for the discussion proposed, as
the results of the census within limits are no way in
doubt.
A leading idea, then, which the census figures of
civilized countries supply is the prodigious rate at which
the civilized world-the community of European na-
tions and nations of European origin-is growing. The
population of Europe and of nations of European
origin, like the United States. may now be put at some-
thing over 500 millions. The United States themselves
may be put at nearly 80 millions; Russia. in its recent
census, shows a population which must already have
grown to about 135 millions; Germany. ~bout SS mil-
lions; the United Kingdom, with the self-governing
Colonies of Canada and Australasia, and the white
population of South Africa, 55 millions; Austria-Hun-
gary, 45 millions; France. 40 millions; Italy, 32 mil-
lions; Spain and Portugal. 25 millions; Scandinavian
countries, 10 millions; Holland and Belgium. 10 mil ..
lions; and other European countries 20 millions. These
are all round figures, of course, and if they are not
exact at the moment they will certainly be exceeded in
a year or two, so that they are safe round figures to
take as the total numbers of the peoples concerned at
the end of the century. We are quite within the mark,
then, in saying that the total population of Europe and
of nations of European origin, excluding the subject
peoples of the English Empire, exceeds 500 millions.