This gives an urban increase of 15.7 per cent. and a rural increase of 3.5 per cent.
Combining the three tests, we see that the truth broadly stated is that the rural population is almost stationary while the urban population is rapidly increasing. The rural population is thus a diminishing proportion of the whole.
In 23 rural counties in England and Wales actual depopulation occurred between 1891 and 1901, ranging from a decrease of 7.5 per cent. in Montgomeryshire to a decrease of 1.9 per cent. in Cornwall.
The Census Commissioners make an interesting test of depopulation of rural areas by taking the 112 Registration Districts which are entirely rural, and which had in 1901 an aggregate population of 1,330,319. Their population at each census back to 1801 has been approximately as follows:
POPULATION OF 112 RURAL REGISTRATION
DISTRICTS, 1801-1901
| Census Year. | Population. | Increase + or Decrease - in preceding decennium. | |
| 1801 | 932,364 | ||
| 1811 | 997,494 | + | 6.99 |
| 1821 | 1,139,137 | + | 14.20 |
| 1831 | 1,216,872 | + | 6.82 |
| 1841 | 1,288,410 | + | 5.88 |
| 1851 | 1,324,528 | + | 2.80 |
| 1861 | 1,321,870 | - | 0.20 |
| 1871 | 1,321,377 | - | 0.04 |
| 1881 | 1,313,570 | - | 0.59 |
| 1891 | 1,304,827 | - | 0.67 |
| 1901 | 1,330,319 | + | 1.95 |
The great advance in 1811-1821 was presumably due to the cessation of the long war. In 1851-1891 actual depopulation occurred, but in 1891-1901 there was a gain of 1.95 per cent. Of the 112 districts, however, 73 showed actual decrease in 1891-1901, the total increase being entirely due to an advance in a few of the districts containing mines. It is clear that in the last 50 years there has been actual depopulation of strictly rural areas.
This becomes still plainer when we examine the facts given in the table on page 237 as to the natural growth of the rural areas.
THE MIGRATION FROM THE COUNTRY