Evening star., 1925-04-19
POPULATION OF u. s..
NOW 114,311,ODO.
Rate of Gain Decreases in
| 1924, Official Statistical
Figures Show.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, April 1S.-The popu
lation growth of the United States is
slowing UP, in spite of the fact that
the number of people in the country
is placed at 114,3 900 for January l,
1925, according to estimates an
nounced 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 immigration accounts
for only one-f1fth of the annual popu-
lation increase of continental United
States. The total population figure
for, January /, 114,311 900. compares
with the bureaus estimate of 112.-
$4,000 on January l, 1924. and the
census count of 05.711 900 in 1920.
Continuing. the bureau says that
the estimated gain during the year
1924 was 1927 900, which is approxi-
mately 100000 less than the average
gain for the last FIVE years. The
year of creates: gain since 1920 was
1928, when the population grew by
1.s96,000. In a 16-year period the
year of greatest gain was 1900 when
2,113, 900 were added.
The natural increase of population
through excess of births over deaths
was four times the amount added by
net immigration in 1924, the bureau s
figures declare.
5000 Aliens Come.
In 1924 net immigration was 315,-
900. while births are estimated at
2,645, 900 and deaths at 1888 900.
Since 1911 the number of deaths has
births have increased by nearly IL
per cent and the population has
grown by some 81 per cent.
OF the total population, 38 out of
every hundred persons are engaged
in some gainful occupation, that is
working for a direct money income.
This study of population growth
was made by DIR. William /. King of
the bureaus research staff, as a part
of the bureaus general and continu-
ing investigation of income in the
United States and its changes from
year to year.
Record Made In 1909.
The greatest percentage growth, ac-
cording to the figures OF the bureau,
took place in 1909 and the smallest in
1918, a year Of war and of Influenza
epidemic. The year 1923 shows one
is slightly below the average, the
change from 1923 being due to the
falling off in immigration.
Estimates made by DIR. King indi-
cate that, during the IS years, there
occurred in the United States more
than 41.000,000 births and approx
mately 22,o00,O0o deaths. 1t appears,
therefore, that the gain in population
from excess of births over deaths was
than three times the increase in popu-
lation due to immigration. The chief
cause Of increase in population in the
United States, therefore, the bureau
says, is not immigration but rather
the fact that more people are born
than die.
Births Double Deaths.
The number of births since 1909 has
been A little less than double the num-
ber of deaths, but the figures indicate
that during the last five years the
ratio of births to deaths has almost
reached to l. This ratio has changed
materially since 1911, a year which
was about normal. In that year the
number of births was apparently
some 2,3S9, 900, while the number of
deaths was about 1,32s,000. In 1924,
13 years later, the number of births
appears to have increased by more
than 250,000, while the number of
deaths was approximately unchanged.
Since 1911 the number of deaths has
tended to remain constant, while
births have increased by nearly IL per
cent and the population has grown by
some 81 per cent. The death rate, in
other words, has fallen faster than the
birth rate. The death rate has been
persistently low during the last
decade, except in the last half of 1918,
the first half of 1919 and the first half
of 1920. This low death rate has been
responsible to no small degree for the
rapid gain in population.
The gainfully occupied constitute
about 38 per cent of the population.
the remaining 62 per cent being al
most equally divided between children
and adults. The proportion of the
population gainfully occupied in
creased noticeably during the war Pc
riod, but had returned by 1924 to ap-
proximately the same percentage as
that prevailing in 1909.