300 



FRANCE. 



The relation of sexes, in the total population, 

 is as follows : 



The movement of population from 1866 to 

 1872 was as follows : 



The excess of births over deaths was, in 

 1872, greater than in any year since 1830. It 

 did not, however, balance the loss of popula- 

 tion caused by the excess of deaths over births 

 in the two years 1870 and 1871 ; and the three 

 years from 1870-1873 show, when regarded 

 conjointly, an average annual excess of 127,- 

 113 deaths. The favorable change in the 

 movement of population during the year 1872 

 is apparent throughout France. All depart- 

 ments, except eight, report an excess of births 

 over deaths, while in 1871 there was an excess 

 of deaths in every department except three. 

 It remains to be seen whether the favorable 



change will keep on in subsequent years and 

 check the decline of population which has been 

 going on for years. The proportion of births 

 to the total population, which, in 1827, was 

 atill 3.11 per cent., did not average, from 1848 

 to 1868, more than 2.62 per cent. ; it was 2.57 

 in 1869, 2.55 in 1870, and 2.26 in 1871. While, 

 from 1817 to 1854, there was one birth to 

 every 34.3 inhabitants, it declined/ from 1847 

 to 1871, in the following proportions: 



1847-1854 ... . . 1 birth to 87.4 inhabitants. 



1854-1860 ... 1 birth to 8.73 " 



1860-1868 Ibirthto87.9 



1869 1 birth to 88.8 " 



1870 1 birth to 39.4 " 



1871 1 birth to 44.2 " 



1872 Ibirthto88.1 



The mortality in 1872 was not only less than 

 in the war years 1870 and 1871, but also con- 

 siderably less than in 1869 ; and the improve- 

 ment was manifest in the cities and towns as 

 well as in the rural districts. The following 

 table shows the percentage of deaths : 



The number of stillborn children from 1869 

 to 1872 was as follows : 



1869 45,280 



1870 45,169 



1871 40,815 



1872 48,967 



The proportion of marriages contracted in 



