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84
1906]
Per 1,000 Per 1,000
Inhabitants. Inhabitants.
1841-50 0.88 1881-90 1.16
1851-60 1.11 1891-1900 0.82
1861-70 1.46 1901-06 0.72
1871-80 1.40 (6 years)
The illegitimate birth-rate is, therefore, nearly 50 per cent. below that
which prevailed during the ten years 1871-80, nearly 39 per cent. below the rate
that obtained between 1881 and 1890, and 13½ per cent. below that during
1891 and 1900.
These figures relating to illegitimacy are of course satisfactory, but the
figures for the total number of births denote a steady and continuous decline
in the general birth rate. The birth-rate for the year 1906 was, as we
have seen, only 25.10 per 1,000 inhabitants, which is the lowest hitherto
chronicled locally. It is more than 12 per cent. lower than the mean birthrate
(28.65) of the ten years 1841-50, when the borough was in its infancy; 27.3
per cent. lower than the decennial rate 1851-60 when the rate was 34.54 per
1,000; 32.5 per cent. lower than in the period 1861-70, when it was 37.20;
17.2 per cent. lower than the rate between 1871-80, when it was 30.3; nearly
22.9 per cent. lower than that of 1881-90, when it was 32.56; and 14.3 per cent.
below that of the five years 1901-05, when it was 29.31. This fall in the birthrate
has been general to the kingdom, and has attracted universal attention,
particularly in view of the fact that the death-rate among infants remains
practically stationary, although the general death-rate has steadily declined.
In preceding reports the causes of the decline of the birth-rate have been
discussed and they may be summed up as follows:—
1. The deliberate act of married persons not to procreate children.
2. The later age at which women marry.
3. Variation in the proportion of women at the child-bearing age in
the population.
4. Variation in the marriage rate.
5. Decrease in illegitimate births.
The Registrar-General in his report for 1905 avers that there are, however,
sufficient grouuds for stating that during the past 35 years approximately