THE POPULATION OF THE WOELD. 



28: 



The measurement of the surface of the earth is also to a considerable 

 degree uncertain ; but it is much easier to approximate the truth in 

 this particular than in the case of population. Large triangulatious have 

 been extended over considerable parts of the earth, while the form and 

 the dimensions of continents, by the determinations of latitudes and 

 longitudes, leave not much cause for doubt. After their value has been 

 ascertained, by employing a uniform standard of measure, we are finally 

 able to determine the superficies with a sufficient exactness. 



In the following work we intend to give a general idea of the late 

 researches of MM. Behm and Wagner, of which we previously made 

 mention. The authors do not propose to present comparative numbers 

 concerning the changes in the population of countries in which the 

 census is taken periodically, but have endeavored to obtain the most 

 probable actual number of the total poi)ulatiou for each state from 

 the latest determinations. The areas are given by MM. Behm and Wag- 

 ner in German geographical square miles and in square kilometers, for 

 the reductions of which the following formulas have been employed : 

 1 German geographical mile, or yL of a degree at the equator = 

 7420.43854 meters 5 1 German geographical square mile = 55.0(329081 

 square kilometers. We shall here give the areas in square miles; 

 but we also give the number of inhabitants per square mile, an element 

 which our authors have not calculated, but have reserved for another 

 publication. In order to facilitate the comparison of the different states 

 of Europe, we add the proportional numbers relating to population and 

 to the area of the states, separately considered. 



Population of the earth. 



Parts of the globe. 



Square miles.* 



Population.* 



Inhabitants per 

 Stiware mile. 





3, 787, 400 

 16, 924, 600 



3, 425, 400 

 11, 557, 400 

 15, 987, 000 



301, 605, 000 



794, 000, 000 



4, 365, 000 



192, 520, 000 



84, 524, 000 



79 63 



II. Asia 



48 97 





1 "7 



IV. Africa 



16.66 

 5 '^9 









Total* 



51, 681, 800 



1, 377, 014, 000 



"6 64 







* In round numbers. 



It must be borne in mind that the num!)ers in tlie fourth column rep- 

 resent only ratios ; but if we should desire to reject fractions of inhab- 

 itants, it would become necessary to give the number per square league, 

 and to obtain this it would be suiScient to multiply the numbers of the 

 fourth column by 9. The result of this operation would be 717, 423, 11^ 

 150, and 48, respectively, per square league, in Europe, Asia, Australia, 

 Africa, and America. For the earth, the number would be 240, We 

 might also consider the number of inhabitants per 100 square miles, 

 and then the decimals would disappear entirely, giving the results 7,903, 

 4,697, 127, 1,666, and 529 ; and by multiplying these numbers by .9, we 

 would re-produce those which represent the number of inhabitants per 

 square league. 



