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VITAL STATISTICS
Population.—The population of the Borough was 76,460 at the 1931 census and 106,636 at the
1951 census. The Registrar-General's mid-year estimate of the population for the year 1952 is 105,600.
The Registrar-General's detailed analysis of the census returns for the Borough has not yet been issued.
Rateable Value.—The rateable value of the Borough for 1952 was £1,013,810 and the sum represented
by a penny rate was £4,146.
Inhabited Houses.—According to the rate books the number of inhabited houses at the end of the
year was 28,879. In relation to the estimated population this yields an average of approximately 4 persons
per house. While this average appears to be low, accurate information will not be available till the 1951
census returns have been analysed.
Live Births.—The number of live births in 1952 was 1,238 as compared with 1,201 in 1951. The
birth rate was 11.7 per 1,000 population. The birth rate will vary, apart from other causes, according
to the age and sex distribution of the population and to permit of a true comparison with other areas the
Registrar-General supplies for each local sanitary authority what is called the area comparability factor.
When this is applied to the above Borough birth rate the result is 11.2 as compared with the birth rate o)
15.3 per 1,000 population for England and Wales.
The number of illegitimate births was 61 as compared with 43 in 1951. The proportion of live births
which were illegitimate, expressed as a percentage of the total live births, is shown below for recent years:—
1925-29 3.9 1945-49 5.1
1930-34 3.2 1950 4.1
1935-39 2.9 1951 3.6
1940-44 4.6 1952 4.9
Of the total notified births (live and still) 78 percent. occurred in hospital as compared with about 45 per
cent, in the years prior to the introduction of the National Health Service.
Stillbirths.—The number of stillbirths in 1952 was 33 (31 legitimate, 2 illegitimate).

Deaths.—The deaths of residents of the Borough during 1952 were 1,067 (547 male, 520 female).
This represents a death rate for the Borough of 10.1 per 1,000 population. The deaths in any area are
influenced by the sex and age distribution of the population and to permit of a true comparison the RegistrarGeneral
calculates for each local sanitary authority area what is called an area comparability factor. When
this is applied to the above Borough rate the result is 11.0 as compared with a death rate 11.3 per 1,000
population for England and Wales.
The Registrar-General has classified the deaths registered during the year and the details are given
in Table II. In Table IV the deaths occurring during the year have been classified on local information.
To help in classifying causes of death the Registrar-General may obtain additional information which is
not available to the Medical Officer of Health. For these two reasons discrepancies may be noticed on
comparing Tables II and IV. The cause of death was certified by the Coroner in 214 cases.
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