| CENSUS OF DECEMBER 31, 1887 | ||||||
| Province. | Whites. | |||||
| Number of Inhabitants. | Percentage. | |||||
| Males. | Females. | Males. | Females. | |||
| Havana | 188,269 | 147,513 | 56.07 | 43.93 | ||
| Matanzas | 79,362 | 62,678 | 55.87 | 44.13 | ||
| Pinar del Rio | 91,627 | 75,051 | 54.97 | 45.03 | ||
| Puerto Principe | 29,473 | 25,108 | 53.99 | 46.01 | ||
| Santa Clara | 134,412 | 110,685 | 54.84 | 45.16 | ||
| Santiago de Cuba | 84,044 | 74,667 | 52.95 | 47.05 | ||
| 607,187 | 495,702 | 55.05 | 44.95 | |||
| Province. | Coloured. | |||
| Number of Inhabitants. | Percentage. | |||
| Males. | Females. | Males. | Females. | |
| Havana | 55,697 | 60,449 | 47.95 | 52.05 |
| Matanzas | 69,514 | 48,024 | 59.14 | 40.86 |
| Pinar del Rio | 31,202 | 28,011 | 52.69 | 47.31 |
| Puerto Principe | 6,370 | 6,838 | 48.23 | 51.77 |
| Santa Clara | 59,084 | 49,941 | 54.12 | 45.88 |
| Santiago de Cuba | 53,546 | 60,122 | 47.20 | 52.80 |
| 275,413 | 253,385 | 52.46 | 47.54 | |
Notice that the proportion of males is larger in the white race than in the coloured. The enumeration of the population of Cuba in 1877 resulted as follows:
| CENSUS OF YEAR 1877 | ||||||
| Province. | Number of Inhabitants. | Density. | Percentage. | |||
| Whites. | Coloured. | Whites. | Coloured. | Whites. | Coloured. | |
| Havana | 321,951 | 113,945 | 37.59 | 13.24 | 73.86 | 26.14 |
| Matanzas | 160,806 | 122,315 | 19.11 | 14.41 | 56.80 | 43.20 |
| Pinar del Rio | 128,986 | 53,218 | 8.62 | 3.55 | 70.79 | 29.21 |
| Puerto Principe | 57,692 | 11,553 | 1.78 | 0.36 | 83.32 | 16.68 |
| Santa Clara | 219,294 | 102,103 | 9.50 | 4.42 | 68.23 | 31.77 |
| Santiago de Cuba | 143,706 | 86,115 | 4.09 | 2.45 | 62.53 | 37.47 |
| 1,032,435 | 489,249 | 8.42 | 3.99 | 67.85 | 32.15 | |
| 1,521,684 | 12.41 | 100 | ||||
The increase in population from 1877 to 1887 was 110,003 individuals, or 7.23 per cent. The number of whites increased 70,454; the number of coloured people increased 39,549. Asiatics in this census, numbering 43,811, were included with the whites.
There are four classes of Cuban residents: the whites, the coloured, the blacks, and the Chinese.
The whites comprise native Cubans, Spaniards, and foreigners; a certain proportion in the interior being Canary Islanders, who are fitted by constitution, habits, and tastes for farm work.
The native Cuban is usually bright, and is gifted particularly with a remarkable memory. Children are very precocious, and, when given educational advantages, they develop into men of no mean ability. In addition to the intelligent Cubans residing in the Island, whose reputation in different branches of learning extends abroad, there are many who have attained honourable distinction in foreign countries, in competition with others whose advantages were conspicuously greater. Dr. Albarran, the well-known Paris physician, and Albertini, the violinist, are two of the many Cubans who have struggled and succeeded in Europe by dint of their individual exertions and natural talents. In America, a most distinguished professor of civil engineering, two leading civil engineers in the navy, and the most eminent authority on yellow fever in the country are native Cubans.
Havana is the only city in Cuba where any instruction is obtainable, and it is noticeable there that even the boys of the poorer classes are anxious to follow the university courses after leaving school.