London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1894
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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12
Average Life Capital of the Population of London.
The mean future lifetime at certain age groups, shown in Table I., may also be conveniently
utilised to calculate the average life capital or mean future lifetime of each member of the population.
If the mean population living in the period 1891-4 be calculated for each age group, and
applied to the " future lifetimes " shown in Table I. for the same age groups, the total " life capital " of
the population may be ascertained.
The following table shows the mean population of the period 1891-4 at certain age groups for males and females, and the total life capital of the population at each age group and at all ages—
Table III.
Estimated Mean Population and Life Capital of London in the period 1891-4.
| Males. | Females. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age groups. | Population. | Life capital. | Age groups. | Population. | Life capital. |
| 0— | 253,673 | 12,445,197 | 0— | 256,730 | 13,527,104 |
| 5— | 229,849 | 11,248,810 | 5— | 232,261 | 12,235,509 |
| 10— | 209,838 | 9,453,202 | 10— | 213,876 | 10,437,149 |
| 15— | 200,880 | 8,193,895 | 15— | 223,236 | 9,945,164 |
| 20— | 197,508 | 7,248,544 | 20— | 238,446 | 9,630,834 |
| 25— | 339,530 | 10,539,011 | 25— | 390,543 | 13,477,639 |
| 35— | 250,529 | 6,060,297 | 35— | 278,204 | 7,578,277 |
| 45— | 176,141 | 3,196,959 | 45— | 198,846 | 4,090,262 |
| 55— | 100,504 | 1,301,527 | 55— | 124,924 | 1,818,893 |
| 65— | 51,289 | 455,959 | 65— | 73,585 | 719,661 |
| 75— | 14,316 | 90,907 | 75— | 25,541 | 172,146 |
| 85 and upwards | 1,536 | 4,224 | 85 and upwards | 3,679 | 10,485 |
| All ages | 2,025,593 | 70,238,532 | All ages | 2,259,871 | 83,643,123 |
The above table shows therefore that the total "life capital" of the 2,025,593 males and
2,259,871 females estimated as the mean numbers living in the period 1891-4 was 70,238,532 and
83,643,123 years respectively. Assuming the age and sex constitution remains the same as at the
1891 census enumeration, and the death rates at the several ages as in the decennium 1881-90, it
appears that an estimated population of 4,285,464 persons in London represents a total " life
capital" of 153,881,655 years, the mean future lifetime of each person being 153,881,655/4,285,464 = 35.91 years.
The mean population living in any year represents accurately the number of years of life
expended by the population in that year. The proportion of the "life capital" of the population
expended in one year may therefore be shown; for the number of years of life expended in one year by
the mean population of London in 1891-4, out of a total "life capital" of 153,881,655, would be
equal to the total mean population, viz., 4,285,464 or 2.785 per cent.
The result of these calculations is shown in the following table—
Average " life capital " of the London population and proportion per cent. of "life capital" expended per annum.
| Average life capital of the population. | Proportion per cent. of " life capital" expended per annum. | |
|---|---|---|
| Years. | Years. | |
| Males | 34.68 | 2.884 |
| Females | 37.01 | 2.702 |
| Persons | 35.91 | 2.785 |
The following table shows the results obtained by Dr. Tatham in the case of the city of Manchester—
| Average life capital of tne population. | Proportion percent. of "'life capital" expended per annum. | |
|---|---|---|
| Years. | Years. | |
| Males | 31.63 | 3.161 |
| Females | 33.37 | 2.997 |
| Persons | 32.53 | 3.074 |
Infant mortality.
The deaths of children under 1 year of age in London during 1894 numbered 18,667, being in
the proportion of 143 deaths per 1,000 births. In 1891 the proportion was 153, in 1892, 154, and in
1893, 163 deaths per 1,000 births.