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17
BIRTH RATES.
The total number of Births registered in the Borough of
Lewisham during the year 1909 was 3,507. Of this total 1,802
were males and 1,705 females.
The birth rate for Lewisham is therefore 21.9 per 1,000
inhabitants, compared with 22.8 in the previous year, and 24.7
the average for the past seven years.
The birth rate for London was 24.2 per 1,000, or l.4
per 1,000 in excess of this Borough.
Of the total births, 472 were registered in the Lee
division, 1,930 in Lewisham division, and 1,105 in Sydenham
and Forest Hill division.
Declining Birth Rate.—A decline in the birth rate still
continues, the rates for the year under review for England and
Wales (25.6), 76 Great Towns (25.7) and London (24.2), being
the lowest on record.
It will be observed also that the birth rate for Lewisham
21.9 is the lowest rate recorded in Lewisham, and 2.8 below the
average rate for the past seven years.
The wide range in the birth rates of the various districts
is shown by the following extreme rates recorded amongst the
76 Great Towns:—
Hastings 15.1, Hornsey 15.3, Halifax 16.5, Bournemouth
16.7, Bradford 18.8, and Northampton 20.1 ;
St. Helens 32.1, Coventry 82.5, Swansea 33.0, Tynemouth
33.5, Merthyr Tydfil 35.7, and Rhondda 41.2.
Births.—In the annual summary of the Registrar-General Lewisham is credited with 3526
births, showing a difference of 22 with those actually registered in this Borough. This is
accounted for by the information received by the Registrar-General from the various
maternity institutions outside this Borough of births occurring therein to Lewisham
mothers.