Office of the Historian

Mr. Denby to Mr. Bayard.

Legation of the United States,
Peking, October 20, 1888. (Received November 30.)
No. 738.]

Sir: I inclose herewith an estimate of the population of China, prepared by the imperial maritime customs. It is based on the census of 1879 and 1882.

Official censuses in China are not entirely accurate.

I have, etc.,

Charles Denby.
[Page 79]
[Inclosure in No. 738.]

Estimate of the population of China.

Districts. Year. Population. Districts. Year. Population.
Manchuria 1872 6,000,000 Chekiang 1882 12,000,000
Chihli 1879 18,000,000 Shensi 1882 8,000,000
Shantung 1882 36,000,000 Fuh-kien 1879 52,000,000
Shansi 1882 12,000,000 Kwantung 1882 30,000,000
Honau 1882 22,000,000 Hunan 1882 21,000,000
Sz chuan 1882 68,000,000 Kiangsi 1882 24,000,000
Yunnan 1879 11,000,000 Kwangs 1879 5,000,000
Hupeh 1882 33,000,000 Kansuh 1879 5,000,000
Kiangsu 1882 21,000,000
Kwochow 1879 8,000,000 Total 413,000,000
Anhwei 1879 21,000,000