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22
vital statistics
population
The Registrar-General's mid-year estimate for 1964 is 223,140. This is an
increase of 20 over the mid-year estimate for 1963.
Although the increase over the previous year is only 20, the natural increase,
i.e., the excess of births over deaths, is 3,187.
This would appear to indicate a movement of residents out of the Borough
this trend has been apparent over the last ten years.
Although it is realised that the population figure is an estimate, one wonders
how realistic this figure is in the light of the housing shortage, over occupation of
property and the immigrant population in the Borough.
births
The number of births increased by 24 giving a corrected birth rate of 22.10
compared with 22.01 in 1963.. This rate is the highest since the post war peak
year of 1947.
The illegitimate births declined, 943 occurring compared with 979 last year.
Although it is pleasing to note this reduction the percentage for the Borough is
still high and illegitimacy presents a social problem..
still births
Five fewer still births occurred giving a still birth rate per 1,000 total
births of 14.6 compared with 15.5 in 1963.
deaths
The total number of deaths was 2,417. Males 1,274 and females 1,143.. This
is a decrease of 315 on the figure for 1963 and gives a corrected death rate of
10.83 compared with 13.71 last year.
As is usual heart and associated diseases accounted for the largest number
of deaths .
Malignant Neoplasms of all forms ranked second in the causes of death.
Fatalities from all forms of tuberculosis were fewer than in 1963,18 occurring
compared with 22.
Deaths from motor vehicle accidents increased from 32 in 1963 to 36 this year
but the number of people taking their own life fell from 49 last year to 39 in 1964.
Men were more prone to suicide than women.