BELGIAN SOCIETY IN HISTORIC CENSUSES
Agricultural census 1895
EXPLANATION
The agricultural sector underwent a radical transformation over the last two centuries. The traditional farm aimed at autarchy has been replaced with a market-oriented production process in which specialisation and concentration play key roles. In general, the significance of the primary sector as a livelihood has decreased sharply. The portion of the active population that earned an income via agriculture dropped spectacularly in the second half of the 19th century (55% in 1846, 22% in 1910). In that period small farms disappeared, the area underwent radical shifts, production was rationalised and productivity increased considerably. This process of social change was complex and was not always linear. Many tried to survive by preserving the old structures and adapting them as much as possible.
The agricultural census that took place in 1895 is a key source for portraying this transformation. The results concern various aspects of agriculture and offer a useful basis for diverse research.