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16
1909]
is as much as 1.0 per 1000 less than the birth-rate of 1908, which in
turn was 0.23 below that of 1907. Ten years ago (1899), the birth-rate was
28.71 per 1000; twenty years ago (1889) 30.79; thirty years ago (1879) 36.08;
and forty years ago (1869) 37.24. Thus in forty years it has declined 37.33
per cent., or more than one-third.
The decrease is due, apart from the variations in the marriage-rate, to
other causes (discussed in a previous report), which are at work throughout
England and, indeed, nearly all civilised communities. It is of interest to study
the results in these countries as shown by the following figures.
Birth-rates.
Birth-rates.
1881 1908
United Kingdom 32.5 26.3
England & Wales 33.9 26.5
Scotland 33.7 27.2
Ireland 24.5 23.3
New Sth. Wales 37.9 26.8
Victoria 31.2 24.6
Queensland 37.2 26.7
So. Australia 38.6 24.7
Wn. Australia 33.9 28.9
Tasmania 33.4 30.8
New Zealand 37.9 27.4
Ontario (Canada) 22.1 23.31
Denmark 32.2 28.3
Norway 30.6 26.2
Sweden 29.1 25.7
Russia 47.8 48.12
1881 1908
Finland 35.0 31.33
German Empire 37.0 32.33
Prussia 37.0 32.8
Austria 37.5 33.83
Hungary 42.9 36.3
Roumania 41.5 40.8
Bulgaria 33.5 43.63
Servia 45.7 36.8
Netherlands 35.0 29.7
Belgium 31.8 25.33
France 24.9 20.2
Switzerland 29.8 26.83
Spain 37.1 33.2
Italy 38.0 33.4
Japan 25.6 33.03
Chili 46.2 39.3
1 (1906) 2(1903) 3 (1907)
Thus it is seen that the Anglo-Saxon race as well as the Gaul and Teuton
have reduced their birth-rates in these late years, and that the white man is
not reproducing his species as in the past. In the case of that new civilizing
race that has so recently burst forth in the vigour of its manhood this is not so.
On the contrary, the birth-rate of Japan increased from the low rate of
25.6 per 1000 to 33.0 per 1000. It remains to be seen, however, whether this
will continue, or prove to be only the increase which usually occurs in nations
after a great war.