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12
1914]
BIRTHS.
Births, 8,177 ; Birth Rate, 25.12.—This number includes 117 births
which took place in districts outside the borough, and which were transferred by
the Registrar-General to Islington, where the parents of the children resided.
The actual number of births registered in the borough was 8,060, as contrasted
with 8,220 in the preceding year. The Birth Rate, inclusive of the transferred
births, was 25.12 per 1,000 inhabitants, which must be considered the actual
birth rate of the borough. The birth rate resulting from the figures registered
in the borough was 24.76 per thousand, which is almost identical with the
return for 1913, when it was 24.77. These figures are, of course, considerably
less than those recorded in past years, which may be seen by the fact Chat
from 1841—1850 the birth rate averaged 28.65
„ 1851—1860 do. 34.54
„ 1861—1870 do. 37.20
„ 1871—1880 do. 36.60
„ 1881—1890 do. 32.49
„ 1891—1900 do. 29.31
„ 1901—1910 do. 26.36
Thus, of late years, there has been a serious fall in the birth rate of the
borough. This fall is not, however, peculiar to Islington, although, perhaps,
it is greater than in most places, but is common to the whole country.
Illegitimate Births.
Illegitimate Births, 304—The number of illegitimate births shows
an increase of 7, as contrasted with 1913, but is 29 below that registered in
1912, and is equal to a rate of 3-72 per cent. of the total births.

* This is an estimated figure, as the returns for only seven years are available.
Table G of the Appendix gives a return of the illegitimate births for each
year since 1841.