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In contrast to these high rates of family occupation is the City with
its comparatively small dwellings occupied by 1.09 families each,
Lewisham 1.27, Wandsworth 1.29. Woolwich 1.29, Deptford 1.57,
Greenwich 1.39. As regards average size of family in the boroughs,
the poorest eastern boroughs are the largest—Stepney 4.26 (persons
per family), Poplar 4.19, Bethnal Green, 4.14, Greenwich 4.10,
Bermondsey 4.08. Deptford stands eighth out of the 29, having 3.93
persons per family. The smallest number is in Holborn 3.12, City 3.31,
Westminster 3.31, St. Marylebone 3.33. The reduction in size of
families since 1911 varies in the boroughs from 6 to 14 per cent. The
average density (rooms per person) for the County is .96. The east
end boroughs are worst—Shoreditch .65 rooms per person, Bethnal
Green .68, Stepney .69. Poplar .76. Deptford is eleventh worst out
of the 29, having .96 rooms per person. The most fovourable
densities are—Hampstead 1.41, Lewisham 1.24, Kensington 1.23,
Westminster 1 .23. The only boroughs whose density was found worse
in 1921 as compared with 1911 were Greenwich, Hamersmith and
Stoke Newington.
Marital Condition. With regard to the widowed, the position in
respect of men has remained practically stationary, but the large
increase of 25,922 was recorded in the case of women. Of this number
11,000 were in the age group 20.39 and are therefore directly associated
with the war.
Births. Male births preponderate, but owing to the heavier death.
rate amongst males the numbers of the two sexes are equalled at about
ten years of age, after which the excess of females becomes greater.
Husbands were found to be generally older than their wives, the
average difference being 2 to 3 years.
Excess of Females over Males. The proportion of females to
1,000 males has risen from 1,127 in 1911 to 1,165 in 1921, the numerical
excess of female, now being 341,365, an increase of 72,362 over the
corresponding figure for 1911.
Metropolitan Boroughs. Local Age and Condition Distributions.
Much depends whether a borough is residential, commercial or industrial
in character. The greatest preponderance of females is found in
the west end boroughs, Kensington, Hampstead, St. Marylebone,
Chelsea and Paddington. Kensington has the largest number, 1594 to
1,000 males. The proportion of children to local population is lowest
in these areas also, consequently the average age is higher than in other