UPA (Utanian Press Agency)
Release: March 8, 301 AP.

Population of Utania determined

The Utanian Bureau of Census, which ran a census over the month of January, finally declared today that the population of Utania was a confirmed 46,218,400 people. The country was divided into 2,339 sub-divisions and the population analysed. A chart showing the population density is attached.

The national population growth rate since 296 has been 2.98% p.a., an astounding figure. The return of expatriate Utani, including at least 350,000 from South Bay, is one known cause, though no detailed figures are yet available on that subject. Furthermore, deliberate mis-counting by Guwimithian census-takers may be a second cause, as they were embarassed at the number of Utani kept repressed in the dependencies and sought to keep the ratio of Guwimithian to non-Guwimithian high.

This reduction of the Utani population may have been particularly the case in Utani B'yan, where official statistics to date have indicated a population of seventeen million. The Utanian census says 20.6 million, a 20% increase in a matter of four years, a feat unlikely to have been achieved simply by births. Over the whole country, the population increased by just under 3% p.a. or 12.5% for the past four years.

The population density of Utania is 49.4 people per sq.km (or 127.94 per sq.mile) which is estimated to be average for Vexillium. Other nation's population densities are: 21.8 for Armatirion; 68.6 for Feniz; 54 for Somery; 26.7 for San Patricio; 17.8 for Leiputria; 9.24 for Islandia.

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For earth comparisons: USA = 28 people per sq.km; Germany and UK = 240; Chile = 40; France = 100; Hong Kong = 5,800; Earth in total = 46.
Actually for the few I could find numbers for, Vexillium appears light on people, compared to earth.
Oh, Winfried, I calculated Feniz to be roughly about 0.5 x 225 miles x 350 miles or 101,981 sq.km. - you've got a very nice map going there, too, btw!
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The census has not completed its analysis on many other fronts, including employment and other economic statistics, but preliminary results already indicate massive unemployment is gripping the country, as many as three million people unemployed, or 13%. This adds yet another challenge to the President's plate.

Areas of major growth are as follows:

- Utan Krysaror grew by 800,000 people to 4.7 million in the past four years, a massive 4.7% annual growth, which may have indicated massive migration from country areas, however, that same growth rate is across the entire state. This indicates substantial population growth, which would see Utani B'yan state reach thirty million people in only eight years, and under-counting by the Guwimithian regime, which may have wanted to reduce the official number of Utani in their dependencies.

- Mulgrave becomes the sixth largest city in Utania, and the largest of the so-called "second-tier" cities. It almost doubled in population to 380,000 people, making it the fourth largest city in Utani B'yan, and second largest in many manufacturing industries.

- The large cities continue to dominate Utani B'yan state, with 8.7 million people living in one of the three major centres: Utan Krysaror, Agraam and Shecker. Urban living in Utania overall stands at twenty million in cities, and another six million in suburban small towns. The remainder mostly live in traditional communal villages.

- The Savana east, which sits on the side of the central mountains of the country, has increased substantially with increasing levels of industrialisation. A marked increase in tribal Viranese, Ujam, Ramal and Nystos immigrants to that region indicates it wealth in terms of manufacturing jobs. To the east coast, it is a source of cheap, reasonable quality consumer goods. The Bureau indicates this will be one of the fastest growing regions in the country. It is also where the Savaj Netopik corporation is based. The capital of the region, Utan Savaj, now has 270th residents. Savana recorded the highest proportional increase in urbanisation.

Population density map of Utania


©UPA, 301 AP.

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©Mike Ham, 2001. All rights reserved. No reproduction without, at least, tacit approval. ;-)