After 1861 and up to April 1931, a Census was conducted every 10 years. While there was always careful supervision, enumerators frequently reported difficulties in reaching households (Report of the Census of British Honduras, 1911). Another problem that has posed a challenge to enumerators even up to more recent censuses is the disinclination of individuals to be enumerated. However, the report states that a little tact on the part of the enumerators went a long way in helping them to obtain all the information required, a fact which is as true of modern day censuses as it was then.
The Censuses of April 1891 and March 1901 were much more detailed with regards to the information collected. This included the topics of sex, age, address, literacy (can read, can write name), type of household, dwelling and type of union.
Table 5
Population by sex
Census 1816-2010
| Year | Male | Female | Total | Rate of increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1816 | 3,824 | |||
| 1823 | 2,495 | 1,612 | 4,107 | 7.4% |
| 1826 | 3,958 | 1,695 | 5,653 | 37.6% |
| 1829 | 2,636 | 1,599 | 4,235 | -25.1% |
| 1832 | 2,850 | 1,687 | 4,537 | 7.1% |
| 1835 | 1,422 | 1,121 | 2,543 | -43.9% |
| 1861 | 13,789 | 11,846 | 25,635 | 908.1% |
| 1871 | 12,603 | 12,107 | 24,710 | -3.6% |
| 1881 | 14,108 | 13,344 | 27,452 | 11.1% |
| 1891 | 16,268 | 15,203 | 31,471 | 14.6% |
| 1901 | 19,140 | 18,339 | 37,479 | 19.1% |
| 1911 | 20,374 | 20,084 | 40,458 | 7.9% |
| 1921 | 22,564 | 22,753 | 45,317 | 12.0% |
| 1931 | 25,524 | 25,823 | 51,347 | 13.3% |
| 1946 | 28722 | 30498 | 59220 | 15.3% |
| 1960 | 44,659 | 45,846 | 90,505 | 52.8% |
| 1970 | 60,091 | 59,843 | 119,934 | 32.5% |
| 1980 | 73,617 | 71,736 | 145,353 | 21.2% |
| 1991 | 96,325 | 93,068 | 189,393 | 30.3% |
| 2000 | 125,065 | 123,851 | 248,916 | 31.4% |
| 2010 | 161,220 | 161,221 | 322,441 | 29.5% |
