The total population of the kingdom at the census taken Dec. 3, 1867, was 24,021,315. Thus the increase in the four years from the end of 1867 to the end of 1871 was 667,937, equal to 2.78 per cent, or at the rate of not quite per cent. per annum.

The subjoined table gives the area of the eleven provinces, with their annexes, in German and English square miles:

Provinces and Districts

The census of 1871 gives the average density of the population at 180 per English square mile. The variation, however, is considerable, the density being highest in the manufacturing district of Düsseldorf, in the Rhine province, where it is nearly four times the average, and smallest in the district of Köslin, Pomerania, where it amounts but to three-fifths of the average. There are a great number of towns-1,289 officially enrolled as Städte-most of them of very limited population, spread all over the kingdom. The following table gives the population of the ten largest towns at the census of December 1871, with comparison of the previous enumeration of 1867, and the increase or decrease, in numbers and percentage, during the period:

As in nearly all other states of, Europe, so in Prussia there is a strong movement towards concentration of the population in the towns. At the census of Dec. 1, 1871, the total population of the 1,289 towns of the kingdom was 7,968,545, and that of the rural communes Landgemeinden-37,987 in number, 16,637,652. Compared with the preceding census of Dec. 3, 1867, the increase in the towns amounted to 466,909, or 6.22 per cent., and that in the rural communes to but 167,951, or 1.02 per cent. Thus while the town population increased at the rate of rather more than one and a half per cent. per annum, the rural population grew but at the rate of one-quarter per cent. per annum.

About one-half, or twelve millions of the population of the kingdom, are engaged in agriculture, as sole or chief occupation, while nearly five millions possess landed property. Large estates, as a rule, are only to be found in the eastern and least populated provinces of the monarchy, while in the central and western portions land is often extremely subdivided. A cadastral survey taken in 1858, showed the existence of 1,099,000 landowners possessing each less than five morgen, or 34 acres.

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Trade and Industry.

The direct trade of Prussia with foreign countries is carried on mainly through the ports on the Baltic, and the amount of exports and imports shipped through harbours on the North Sea is comparatively unimportant. A very large portion of exports from and imports into the kingdom pass in transit through Hamburg and Bremen. The commercial intercourse of Prussia with the United Kingdom is included in that of Germany. (See pp. 183-85.)

The mineral riches of Prussia are very considerable. The following table shows the number of mines in operation, the quantities and value of their produce in 1874, and the number of persons employed therein at the end of the same year :—

The following table shows the number of smelting works and foundries in Prussia, the quantities and value of their produce in 1874, and number of persons employed at the end of the year:——

Not included in the tabular statement are salines to the number of 32, which produced 4,305,664 centner of salt, of the value of 1,947,451 thaler, and employed 1,857 persons in 1874.

The production of coal in Prussia, after vastly increasing for many years, appears to have reached its limit, as will be seen from the following statement, given after official returns.

There were

The coal pits in the Ruhr-Düsseldorf district, which extend over more than ten miles in length, and are calculated to be able to continue their present supply for 5,000 years, contribute nearly one half of the total produce, while the coal pits of the river Saar, situated in the south-western angle of the Rhenish Provinces, and which extend their strata into Bavarian and French territory, furnish about the sixth part of the coal produce of Prussia. The coal raised in Prussia amounts to 93 per cent. of the total coal production of Germany.

Prussia has a very large and complete system of railways. At the end of the year 1874, the length of the system was as follows::

All the lines of the former territories of Hanover Hesse, and Nassau are owned by the state, and at a period not far removed the whole of the railways of Prussia will be national property.