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14
POPULATION.
Of all the figures submitted with reference to the tenements with averages of more than
two persons per room, those of the average numbers of inhabitants (Table 13) are the most
interesting. In the Borough as a whole the averages for tenements of one, two, and three rooms
are slightly higher in 1911 than in 1901, that for tenements of four rooms, slightly lower. The
differences are in every instance very small, but such as they are, they are disappointing.
On this occasion no comparisons have been instituted between the housing conditions in the
Borough and in the circumjacent districts. Material for such comparisons has been extracted
from the volumes of the Census Report, but it has not been possible to complete the necessary
calculations in time for inclusion in this report. Table 5, however, which has been compiled
direct from the Census Report, gives one comparison of housing to which a brief reference should
be made. The actual numbers of the tenements of "private families" enumerated in each area
in which the members averaged more than two persons per room are given together with the
average number of occupants in each of such tenements. In the Borough the average was 591
persons, as compared with 6.22 for the whole County. The maximum average (694) was
observed in Willesden, and the minimum (5.67) in St. Marylebone. In the Borough 16.2 per
cent. of the total population included in the "private families" were enumerated in tenements
with an average of over two persons per tenement, as compared with 17.2 in the whole County.
The maximum percentage (20.7) was found in St. Marylebone, and the minimum (7.1) in
Hampstead.

Estimated Population, 1913.—In accordance with the usual practice, the population of the
Borough at the middle of 1913 was estimated from the rate of change observed to have taken
place during the ten years 1901.10, as deduced from the census data. The actual method
used for the calculation was what is known as Waters. formula, recommended and described in
the Annual Reports of the Registrar.General. The result obtained (142,261 persons) agrees very
closely with the figure published in the Quarterly Reports of the Registrar.General. The
estimated numbers for the various Wards will be found in Table II., Appendix.
For some little time past considerable doubts have been entertained about the continued
shrinkage of the population of the Borough, which is indicated by the result just set out.
Such doubts arose from a consideration of (i.) the increase in the annual value (absolute)
of the natural increment, and (ii.) the fact that the number of "empties"—rated premises—has
been decreasing.
The natural increment in the population—being the excess of births over deaths, both fully
corrected—was 1,069 in 1911.12, and 1,126 in 1912.13. The corresponding figures for 1909.10
and 1910.11 were 1,127 and 991 respectively. The total addition to the population by such
increment, supposing no disturbances have been caused by migration, since the date of the last
census amounts to 2,385 persons, whereas the estimated population given above indicates a
loss of 290.