BIRTH-RATE DECLINE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1930, Page 5

BIRTH-RATE DECLINE

FIGURES FOR. ENGLAND AND WALES.

LONDON, October 8,

Tlie Registrar-General’s “Statistical Review of England and Wales for the year 1929, has beeni published. The total estimated population of Great Britain and Ireland in 1929 was 48,684,000, compared with 48,574,000 in 1928.—an increase of 110;000, of 0.23 per cent. Taking the constituent parts of the British Isles separately there was an increase of population in England and Wales, and there were decreases in Scotland and the Irish Free State. For Northern Ireland the figure remained stationary. The estimated population of England and Wales in 1929 was 39,607,000 against 39,482,000 in 1928—an increase of 125,000, or 0.32 per cent. For Scotland the figures are: 1929, 4,884,000; 1928, 4,893,000; decrease 9,000, or 0.18 per cent. Northern Ireland, 1929, as in 1028. 1,250,000: Irish Free State. 192.9, 2.943,000; 1928, 2,949,000; decrease 6.000, or 0.20 per cent. The number of marriages solemnised in England and Wales during the year was 313,316, and was equal to a rate of 15.8 persons married per 1000 persons living. Both number and rate are the highest since. 1921. The increase was shown over three-quarters, but in the April-June quarter there was a fairly substantial decline. The greatest quarterly number of marriages was again recorded in the JulySeptember quarter, being nearly double that in the January-Marcli quarter. This preference for the third quarter of the year has been a feature of the returns since the beginning of the present centum’. As to divorces, the number of decrees nisi made absolute during the vear was 3396, as compared with 4018 in 1928, a decrease of 622, or 15.5 per cent.

The births registered during the year numbered 643,673, equal to a rate of 16.3 per 1000 of the population, a decrease from 660.267 and 16.7 respectively, and continuing the steady fall of recent years broken only by the figures for 1928. The number of (illegitimate births was f29,3Q7, or 395 fewer than in 1928. The proportion of male to 1000 female births was 1043, a close approximation to the proportion in recent years and to preWar vears. The maximum reached was 1060 in 1919.