Statistics
In Denmark, serious interest in collecting quantitative data and preparing
various statistics was first seen in the 18th century. Many
statistics were only intended for administrative use, but in time a good deal of
statistics were published by the Chamber of Revenue’s tablework commission,
established in 1833, and by the Statistics Bureau, established in 1850.
Among the most important publications are Statistisk Tabelværk,
published since 1835, with results of general surveys; Statistiske
Meddelelser, published since 1862, with results of more specific surveys; Statistiske
Efterretninger, published since 1909, often with preliminary results, which,
after collation and reworking, are published in Statistisk Tabelværk or
Statistiske Meddelelser; finally, Statistisk Årbog, published annually
since 1896, with general surveys of all the central aspects of society.
The authorities have always considered population statistics the most
important element in this field, and census results have been published
meticulously. This also applies to all the eleven censuses taken in the Danish
West Indies. The results of these were published as follows: census of 1 October
1835 in Statistisk Tabelværk, oldest series, part 6, Copenhagen 1842,
pp. 184-189; census of 1 October 1841 in Statistisk Tabelværk, oldest
series, vol. 10, Copenhagen 1846, pp. 242-253; census of 1 October 1846 in Statistiske
Meddelelser, vol. 1:1:12, Copenhagen 1852, pp. 163-195; census of 13 May
1850 in Statistisk Tabelværk, new series, vol. 1, Copenhagen 1850, pp.
295-307; census of 9 October 1855 in Statistiske Meddelelser, vol. 1:5:1,
Copenhagen 1859, pp. 1-48; census of 18 October 1857 was not published
separately, but in connection with the figures from the next census in 1860;
census of 9 October 1860 in Statistiske Meddelelser, vol. 2:4:4,
Copenhagen 1865, pp. 141-204; census of 10 October 1870 was not published
separately, but in connection with the numbers from the next census in 1880;
census of 9 October 1880 in Statistiske Meddelelser, vol. 3:6:3,
Copenhagen 1883, pp. 129-197; census of 9 October 1890 was published in Statistiske
Meddelelser, vol. 3:12:4, Copenhagen 1892, pp. 323-418; census of 1 February
1901 in Statistiske Meddelelser, vol. 4:12:5, Copenhagen 1903; and census
of 1 February 1911 in Statistiske Meddelelser, vol. 4:41:5, Copenhagen
1913.
The only specifically West Indian statistics published by the Statistics
Bureau, other than the above mentioned, describe the volume of trade between
Denmark and the Danish West Indies from 1 April 1884 until 31 March 1902 and is
appended to Statistiske Meddelelser, vols. 3:18:1, Copenhagen 1897, and
4:12:5, Copenhagen 1903.
It is also worth noting that, from 1900 on, Statistisk Årbog has a
small section with statistics on the Danish West Indies. The table headings are
in French or English as well as in Danish.
Of American-published statistics on the final years of the Danish epoch,
mention should be made of Birth and Mortality Statistics of the Virgin
Islands of the United States 1901-1919, Washington D. C. 1920.
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