Free colored………………….175,791
Slaves………………………. 51,265
Total………………………. 443,139
In 1855 cholera morbus raged throughout the island, especially among the colored population, and carried off 9,529 slaves alone.
The next census shows the progressive increase of inhabitants. It was conducted by royal decree of September 30,1858, on the nights of December 25 and 26, 1860. The official memorial gives the following totals:
Whites………………………….. 300,430
Free colored…………………….. 341,015
Slaves………………………….. 41,736
Unclassified…………………….. 127
Total……………………….. 583,308
or 1,802.2 inhabitants per square league; one of the densest populations on the globe, and the densest in the Antilles at the time except Barbados.
The annual increase of population in Puerto Rico, according to the calculations of Colonel Flinter, was:
From 1778-1802 … 24 years … 5-12 per cent per annum. " 1802-1812 … 10 " … 1-15 " " 1812-1820 … 8 " … 3-14 " " " 1820-1830 … 10 " … 4 " " " 1830-1846 … 16 " … 3-15 " " " 1846-1860 … 14 " … 3.72 " "