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 1910
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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| Period. | Marriages of minors per cent. of total marriages. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London. | England and Wales. | |||
| Males. | Females. | Males. | Females. | |
| 1851-1860 | 2.8 | 11.9 | 5.7 | 18.0 |
| 1861-1870 | 3.6 | 14.6 | 6.8 | 20.4 |
| 1871-1880 | 4.7 | 16.9 | 8.0 | 22.0 |
| 1881-1890 | 5.5 | 18.9 | 6.8 | 20.8 |
| 1891-1900 | 4.7 | 16.5 | 5.4 | 17.5 |
| 1901 | 4.4 | 15.0 | 5.0 | 16.0 |
| 1902 | 4.0 | 14.0 | 4.7 | 15.4 |
| 1903 | 3.8 | 13.7 | 4.6 | 15.2 |
| 1904 | 3.7 | 13.9 | 4.6 | 15.3 |
| 1905 | 3.6 | 13.0 | 4.4 | 14.7 |
| 1906 | 3.5 | 12.9 | 4.3 | 14.6 |
| 1907 | 3.2 | 11.8 | 4.1 | 14.2 |
| 1908 | 2.9 | 11.3 | 4.0 | 14.0 |
| 1909 | 3.1 | 11.1 | 4.0 | 13.7 |
If the marriage rate of 1910 be compared with the marriage-rate of 1870-72, it has decreased
by 11 per cent., if based on the total population, and by 20 per cent., if based upon the total
number of marriageable persons, i.e., on the unmarried and widowed portion of the population, aged
15 years and upwards. This latter figure may be said to represent the fall in the marriage-rate more
accurately than the former.
Births.
The number of births registered in the Administrative County of London in 1910 (52 weeks)
was 114,870, giving a birth-rate of 25.4 per 1,000 persons living per annum. The steady decline in the
London birth-rate noted in previous reports has continued, and the birth-rate for 1910 is the lowest
recorded rate in London since the institution of civil registration.
Birth-rates —
London.
The birth-rate in successive periods has been as follows:—
| Period. | Birth-rate per 1,000 persons living. | Period. | Birth-rate per 1,000 persons living. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851-1860 | 33.6 | 1903 | 28.7a |
| 1861-1870 | 35.4 | 1904 | 28.3a |
| 1871-1880 | 35.4 | 1905 | 27.7a |
| 1881-1890 | 33.2 | 1906 | 27.4a |
| 1891-1900 | 30.2a | 1907 | 26.7a |
| 1901-1910 | 27.4a | 1908 | 26.6a |
| 1909 | 25.7a | ||
| 1901 | 28.9a | 1910 | 2.54a |
| 1902 | 28.6a |
England and
Wales.
The corresponding figures for England and Wales, which show a similar decline to that noted in London, are as follows:—
| Period. | Birth-rate per 1,000 persons living. | Period. | Birth-rate per 1,000 persons living. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851-1860 | 34.1 | 1903 | 28.4 |
| 1861-1870 | 35.2 | 1904 | 28.0 |
| 1871-1880 | 35.4 | 1905 | 27.3 |
| 1881-1890 | 32.4 | 1906 | 27.2 |
| 1891-1900 | 29.9 | 1907 | 26.4 |
| 1901-1910 | 27.2 | 1908 | 26.7 |
| 1909 | 25.8 | ||
| 1901 | 28.5 | 1910 | 25.0 |
| 1902 | 28.5 |
(a) See footnote (b) page 8.