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10
Vital Statistics.
For the purpose of standardisation, the Registrar-General's area
comparability factors, which make allowance for the way in which the
sex and age distribution of the local population differs from that of
England and Wales as a whole, have been applied to the rates for
births and deaths. The factor for births is 0.91, and for deaths 1.02.
POPULATION.
The Registrar-General's estimate of the mid-year home population
of Battersea was 102,940, which shows a decrease of 1,080 on the
previous year's estimated figure of 104,020. This estimate has been
adopted for the purpose of the statistics contained in this Report.
The population of the Borough at the Census taken in 1961 was
105,870 (50,620 males and 55,250 females, a proportion of 100 males
to 109 females). The present estimated population of 102,940 shows a
decrease of 2,930 (or 2.8 per cent.).
Just over a hundred years ago in the year 1857 the population of
Battersea was estimated at 15,970, and appears to have reached its
maximum density in 1910 when it was reported to be 188,222. Since
then there has been a steady and gradual decline to its present estimated
figure of 102,940.
BIRTHS.
The number of live births registered in the Borough during 1963
was 462 (225 males, 237 females). Of this number 6 were transferred
out, the permanent residence of the parents being outside the Borough
and 1,893 registered outside the Borough were transferred in, giving on
balance a total of 2,361 births (1,175 males, 1,186 females, an excess of
11 females) relating to Battersea residents, and a live birth rate of
20.87 per 1,000 population.
All the Battersea births (462 live and 4 still) which occurred within
the Borough were "domiciliary births."
Illegitimate live births numbered 316 or 13.4 per cent. of the live
births.
The live birth rate for England and Wales was 18.2.
Still-Births.
The registration of still-births is made compulsory by the Births
and Deaths Registration Act, 1953.
During 1963 there were 4 still-births registered in Battersea, all
relating to Battersea parents. Thirty-four still-births occurring outside
the Borough were registered as belonging to Battersea, making 38 in all,
representing a still-birth rate of 15.84 per thousand births (live and still)
registered. Of the 38 still-births 6 (15.8 per cent.) were registered as
illegitimate.

The still-birth rate in 1963 for England and Wales was 17.33