I have in this section collected population statistics from all European
countries. Because systematic and regular censuses were not carried out in
Europe until the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the
19th century are all figures before that just estimates based on
a very limited material. The further back in time you get, these figures
become more and more just guesswork. The estimates of some countries
populations can therefore also vary from book to book. I have collected the
statistics in this section without scrutiny from several different sources,
although most of it comes from the work International Historical
Statistics 1750-1993. These statistics should therefore because of the large
number of different sources be used with caution and at your own risk. Be
also aware that the borders of most countries has changed several times and
that the population statistics can therefore refer to either the country
within its present or its historical borders.
The figures for Germany in the diagram above refer to Prussia before the
unification 1871 and West Germany during the Cold War. In a similar way does
the figures for Italy before the unification 1861 refer to the kingdom of
Sardinia. The Austrian figures before 1918 refer to the entire dual monarchy
of Austria-Hungary. |