View report page

18
1902]
MARRIAGES.
The number of persons married, 6,216, showed an increase on the
preceding two years, when they were respectively 5,936 and 5,988. Indeed,
marriages were more numerous on only two occasions during the ten years
1892-1901, namely, in 1898 when 6,410, and in 1899 when 6,508 persons
married. They were also more numerous than the average of the preceding
ten years, in which period the annual average number of persons marrying
was 5,340, or 876 less than the number now recorded.
The marriage-rate for the year was 18.08 per 1,000, as against a mean
rate of 16.01 in the preceding ten years, and 17.0 in the thirty years 1871-1900.
These increased figures are most satisfactory, and are no doubt due in a
large measure to the close of the Boer war, which must have caused the
decrease, as war always does, in the returns for the two preceding years.
The number of persons who were married in the first quarter of the year
was only 1,208, which in the second quarter increased to 1,352, and in the
third quarter further rose to 1,924. In the fourth quarter there was a slight
decrease, for the number although, unusually high, was only 1,732.
The general tendency of the marriage rate in Islington since 1896 has
been upwards. It was only checked by the outbreak of hostilities in South
Africa. It is, therefore, to be hoped that this increase will continue, for a
high marriage-rate is looked upon as a sign of prosperity among the
community.
For statistics relating to marriages, reference should be made to Tables
VI., VII. and VIII.
BIRTHS.
The births during 1902 numbered 9,214, of which 4,667 were males, and
4,547 females. They were 50 below the return for the preceding year, and
504 below the corrected average of the preceding ten years.
The birth-rate was equal to 26.80 per 1,000 of the population, as against
a mean rate for the ten years, 1892-1901, of 28.81 per 1,000. The birth-rate is
the lowest recorded in any year in Islington since 1845, as shown in the
following statement :