Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-20
U. S. Population
At 114,311,O00
Jan. l Estimate

New York, April is ca. P)-The
population growth of the United
States is slowing up. in spite of the
fact that the number of people in the
country is placed at 114,311,000 for
Jan. /. 1925. according to estimates
announced today by the National
Bureau of Economic Research. of
this city. Both the birth rate and
the death rate are falling, the latter
faster than the former, while immi-
grafton accounts for only one-fifth
of the annual population increase of
continental United States. The total
population figure for Jan. 1. 114.311,-
900, compares with the bureaus es-
innate of 112,6Si,000 on Jan. 1. 1924,
and the census count of 105,711 900
in 1920.
Continuing the bureau says that
the estimated gain during the year
1924 was 1.627,000. which is approx
imately 100000 less than the average
gain for the last five years. The
year of greatest gain since 1920 was
1928. when the population grew by
1,996,000. In IL year period the
year of greatest gain was 1909 when
2,173.000 We're added.
The natural increase of population
through excess of births over deaths
was four times the amount added by
net immigration in 1924, the bureaus
figures declare.
In 1924 net immigration was 315,-
900. while births are estimated at o.
$4,000 and deaths at 1.333,000.
Since 1871 the number of deaths
has tended to remain constant, while
births have increased by nearly II
percent and the population has
grown by some II percent.
or the total population. 3S out of
every hundred persons are engaged
in some gainful occupation, that is
working for direct money income.
This study of population growth
was made by DR.. Willford /. King, Of
the bureaus research staff, as n part
OF the bureaus general and continu-
ing investigation of income in the
United States and it's changes from
year to year.
The greatest percentage growth,
according to the figures of the bur
eau, took place in 1909 and the
smallest in 1918, year of war and
OF influenza epidemic. The year 1928
shows one of the peaks of the per-
iod. while 1924 is slightly below the
average, the change from 1928 being
due to the falling off in immigration,
estimates made by DIR. King in
dlcate that, during the 16 years,
lhere occurred in the United States
more than 100000 births and ap-
proXmlately 22,000,000 deaths. 1t ap-
pears, therefore, that the gain in
population from excess of births over
deaths was something over 10000. OOO.
or more than three times the in
crease i'll population due to immigra
ton. The chief cause of increase IN
population in the United States.
therefore. the bureau says. is not mi
Sratlon but rather the fact that more
people are born than die.
Inc number of births since 1909
mas been little less than double the
number of deaths. but the figures in
dlcate that. during the last five wears
the ratio of births to deaths has al.
most reached 2 to ]. This ratio has
changed materially since 1911, a year
winch was about normal. In that
year the number of births was an
parently some 2,3S9,O00, while the
number OF deaths was about 1925
wv IN i9Z4, 10 years later. the num-
W Oh nlrths appears to have in
me number of deaths was approyi
fnately unchanged. Since 1911 the
number of deaths has tended TO re-
man constant, while births have in
creased by nearly IL percent and the
POPULATION has grown by some q
percent. The death rate, in other
words, has fallen faster than tn,
plrth rate. The death rate has been
persistentiy low during the last dec
ade except in the last half of 1918
me first half Of 1919, and the first
nan OF 1920. This low death rate
das peen responsible to no small de-
gree lof the rapid gain in population.
me galnfulIy occupied constitute
about SO percent of the ponulation
the remaining 81 percent being al
most equally divided between chill.
oren and adults. The proportion of
the population gainfully occupied in
creased noticeably during the war
period, but had returned by 1924 to
approximately the same percentage
as that prevailing in 1909.