# IX.-VITAL STATISTICS
(a.)-POPULATION
The civil population of the Colony, according to the Census taken on May 20th, 1911, was 456,739, of whom 104,287 reside in the New Territories and in New Kowloon; at the Census taken in 1906 it was 301,967 exclusive of the New Territories and of New Kowloon. The estimated total population at the middle of the year under review was 596,100, but this includes the New Territories; and, as the birth and death figures given below do not include those from this area (with the exception of New Kowloon), the population for the purposes of calculating these rates is estimated at 499,000, of whom 13,600 were Non-Chinese.
The distribution of population estimated to the middle of 1919 was as follows:-
Non-Chinese Civil Community 13,600 Chinese Population City of Victoria (including Peak) 320,080 Villages of Hongkong 16,520 Kowloon (including New Kowloon) 86,550 New Territories 97,100 Population afloat 64,250 Total Chinese Population 584,500 Total Civil Population 598,100(b.)-PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION
The activity in building operations, which has been so noticeable a feature since 1912, has not abated, and the demand for housing accommodation by the Chinese continued to be greatly in excess of the supply, as many of those who fled with their families to Hongkong during 1911, 1912, and 1913 elected to remain in the Colony.
The birth-rate for the year was 39 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 20.6 per 1,000 among the Non-Chinese community, as compared with 3.6 and 22.1 for 1918.
The death-rate for the year was 23.3 per 1,000 among the Chinese community and 19.9 among the Non-Chinese civil community, as compared with 29.6 and 19.5 for 1918.
The number of deaths from Malaria (319) shows a decrease on the previous year (398). The deaths of Chinese from this cause in the City of Victoria numbered 101 out of a population of 320,080 or a rate of 0.3 per 1,000 per annum.
The deaths from Plague numbered 426 as compared with 251 in 1918.
Small-pox deaths numbered 15, all Chinese.
There were 3,049 deaths from respiratory diseases as compared with 3,316 in 1918, and 74 of these were among the Non-Chinese community. Pulmonary Tuberculosis claimed 980 Chinese and 26 Non-Chinese.