Census return dates    -    Population
 
1841 June 6th..................... 15,914,000
1851 March 30th................ 17,928,000
1861 April 7th.................... 20,066,000
1871 April 2nd.................... 22,723,000
1881 April 3rd.................... 25,974,000
1891 April 5th..................... 28,999,725
1901  March 31st