Statistisk Tabel-Værk.
| S. Qr. | W. Qr. | N. & B. Qrs. | Total. | ||
| In A.D. | 1801, | 17,160 | 13,976 | 16,104 | 46,240(47,207?) |
| ” | 1806 (Preyer and Zirkel, whereas Mackenzie assigns it to 1804), | 46,349 | |||
| ” | 1808 (Preyer and Zirkel; and Mackenzie, p. 280), | 48,063 | |||
| ” | 1834, (Dillon, unofficial, evidently “round numbers”) | 53,000 | |||
| ” | 1835, | 20,292 | 14,480 | 21,263 | 56,035 |
| ” | 1840, | 20,677 | 14,665 | 21,752 | 57,094 |
| ” | 1842 (Meddel., ii. 70), | 53,000 | |||
| ” | 1845, | 21,364 | 14,956 | 22,238 | 58,358 |
Skýrslur.
| S. Qr. | W. Qr. | N. & E. Qrs. | Total. | ||
| In A.D. | 1850, | 21,288 | 15,112 | 22,757 | 59,157 |
| ” | 1855, | 22,810 | 16,362 | 25,431 | 64,603 |
| ” | 1857 (Preyer and Zirkel), | 66,929 | |||
| ” | 1858 (Do.), | 67,847 | |||
| ” | 1860, | 23,137 | 16,960 | 26,890 | 66,987 |
| ” | 1865 (Vice-Consul Crowe), | 68,000 | |||
| ” | 1870, | 25,063 | 17,001 | 27,699 | 69,763 |
| ” | 1872 (estimated), | 70,000 | |||
| while that of Madeira is 80,000. | |||||
The following table (Skýrslur um landshagi á Íslandi, v. 310, 1872) shows the increase of population during the present century down to 1870:
| From | Feb. 1, 1801, to Feb. 2, 1835, | increase | 18·71 | per cent. |
| ” | Feb. 2, 1835, to Nov. 2, 1840, | ” | 1·89 | ” |
| ” | Nov. 2, 1840, to Nov. 2, 1845, | ” | 2·55 | ” |
| ” | Nov. 2, 1845, to Feb. 1, 1850, | ” | 1·01 | ” |
| ” | Feb. 1, 1850, to Oct. 1, 1855, | ” | 9·21 | ” |
| ” | Oct. 1, 1855, to Oct. 1, 1860, | ” | 3·69 | ” |
| ” | Oct. 1, 1860, to Oct. 1, 1870, | ” | 4·14 | ” |
The average rate of increase during the last century was very small: between A.D. 1703 and 1758 it was about one-fifth of 1 per cent. During the present age there has been, we observe, a tolerably regular progress with only three exceptions (A.D. 1835-40, A.D. 1845-50, and A.D. 1860-70). During this decade (1860-70) there has been a considerable failure, 4·14 per cent., or only 2·05 for each lustrum. In 1872, as will be seen, the number of males was 33,102; of females, 36,660. But throughout Iceland the fluctuations have ever been so great as to reduce the value of “general considerations.”
The following tables are compiled from the minute returns made to the Danish Government, and published in vols. i.-vi· of 1852-61, of the Meddelser fra det Statistishe Bureau, Copenhagen.
No. 1.—Table showing the Population of Iceland and its Distribution on the 1st February 1850, and on the 1st October 1855.
| Districts. | No. of Families. | Population. | Increase, in hundredths. | ||
| 1850. | 1855. | 1850. | 1855. | ||
| Southern Amt. | |||||
| Reykjavik, | 219 | 250 | 1149 | 1354 | 17·84 |
| Gullbríngu and Kjósar Sýsla,{*} exclusive of Revkjavik, | 783 | 853 | 4519 | 4853 | 7·39 |
| The same, including Reykjavik, | 1002 | 1103 | 5668 | 6207 | 9·51 |
| Borgarfjarðar Sýsla, | 329 | 355 | 2097 | 2312 | 10·25 |
| Árnes Sýsla, | 723 | 755 | 5018 | 5382 | 7·25 |
| Rángárvalla Sýsla, | 700 | 717 | 4766 | 4917 | 3·17 |
| Austr and Vestr Skaptafells Sýsla,{*} | 481 | 529 | 3340 | 3545 | 6·14 |
| Vestmannaeyja{**} Sýsla, | 91 | 98 | 399 | 447 | 12·03 |
| Total (Southern Amt), | 3326 | 3557 | 21,288 | 22,810 | 7·15 |
| Western Amt. | |||||
| Mýra and Hnappadals Sýsla,{*} | 379 | 383 | 2410 | 2569 | 6·60 |
| Snæfellsness Sýsla, | 512 | 526 | 2684 | 2825 | 5·25 |
| Dala Sýsla, | 267 | 277 | 1923 | 2104 | 9·41 |
| Barðastrandar Sýsla, | 336 | 347 | 2518 | 2703 | 7·35 |
| Isafjarðar{***} Sýsla, | 508 | 545 | 4204 | 4589 | 9·16 |
| Stranda Sýsla, | 179 | 190 | 1373 | 1572 | 14·49 |
| Total (Western Amt), | 2181 | 2268 | 15,112 | 16,362 | 8·27 |
| Northern And Eastern Amts. | |||||
| Húnavatns Sýsla, | 556 | 639 | 4117 | 4637 | 12·63 |
| Skagafjarðar Sýsla, | 626 | 622 | 4033 | 4258 | 5·58 |
| Eyjafjarðar Sýsla, | 625 | 638 | 3965 | 4289 | 8·17 |
| Norðr and Suðr Thingeyjar Sýsla,{*} | 640 | 684 | 4453 | 5108 | 14·71 |
| Norðr-Múla Sýsla, | 405 | 473 | 3201 | 3754 | 17·28 |
| Suðr-Múla Sýsla, | 391 | 416 | 2988 | 3385 | 13·29 |
| Total (Northern and Eastern Amts), | 3243 | 3472 | 22,757 | 25,431 | 11·75 |
| Total for all Iceland, | 8750 | 9297 | 59,157 | 64,603 | 9·21 |