British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 715. Chapter XVI: Social Services : Section 5: The Standard of Living of Palestinian Arabs: Education

CHAPTER XVI.

Table 19.

YEARLY RATE OF NATURAL INCREASE AND RATE OF TOTAL INCREASE N VARIOUS MOSLEM COUNTRIES PER 1,000 INHABITANTS.

Egypt

Period I NATURAL increase! TOTAL increase*
1882-97 I - I 24
1897-1007 15
1907-17 ; - 12
I
1017-27 I 11
1927-30 - I 13
1930-41 I 16 -
1920-39 - 14 (estimate)
1021-36 - 5
1886-91 17
1891-96 - 11
1896-1901 - 16
1901-06 - 18
1906-11 - 11
1911-21 - 4
1921-31 - 14
1906-11 I - 13
1911-21 I - 8
1921-26 - 6
1926-31 22
1931-36 - 16 Country

Iraq

French Morocco

Algeria (Indigenous population)

Tunis (total population)

182. Since Moslem death rates have decreased more in certain sub-districts (mainly in the coastal plain) than in others, the natural increase has been larger there than elsewhere. Unfortunately no statistics of internal migration are available but the evidence of the census of 1931 and the evidence of rough regional estimates of population suggest that not only is there a differential rate of natural increase between sub-districts but that the Arab population tends to move towards the places more densely populated, the latter being the areas in which economic development has been greatest.

(d) EDUCATION.

183. In his report (op. cit.) Lord Samuel gave the following information :

"The Arabs, a quick-witted people, are beginning to recognize how much they are handicapped by illiteracy. Not only in the towns, but in many of the villages as well, they are eager for the opening of schools, and display their eagerness by subscribing voluntarily considerable sums for their establishment ..

______________________________________________
* Calculated for intercensal periods on the basis of the compound interest formula.

715