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4
While the total population of the county is much the same now as in 1911, there
has been considerable change in age-constitution. In 1911 there were 901,056 children
under ten years of age, but in 1921 the number had fallen to 775,898: the
decrease had occurred in spite of greatly diminished infant mortality, and is the
result mainly of the fall in the birth-rate. Some part of the reduction may be attributed
to the influence of holidays upon the 1921 census figures, but though the
number thus absent cannot be stated it was probably not significant. While the
child population under ten years has decreased by 125,158 there has been an increase
in the population over ten years amounting, without allowance for holiday absences,
to 87,996, of whom 82,906 were females and 5.090 were males. Losses during the
European War together with the diminished birth-rate have, therefore, resulted
in a reduction of the London stock by about 200,000 during the inter-censal period
1911-1921.
Marriages. The marriages registered in London during 1922 numbered approximately
41,648 as compared with 43,885 in 1921, the marriage rate being 18.4. The course
of the marriage rate in London since 1850 is shown in the diagram on page 3.
The census of 1921 shows a decrease in the number of women aged 15-45 in
London since 1911, but the number between these ages returned as married had,
during the same period, increased by 8,954. The increase in London south of the
Thames was 10,733, while north of the river there was a decrease of 1,779.
Births. The births in London during 1922 numbered 94,792 the corresponding figure
for 1921 being 99,839. The birth-rate was 20.9 per thousand of population as compared
with 22.1 in 1921. The movement of the London birth-rate since 1850 is shown
in the diagram on the last page. Notwithstanding the greater number of married
women of child-bearing age shown by the census in 1921, as compared with 1911,
the birth-rate shows a decline of nearly 11 per cent.
Deaths. The deaths in the civil population of London, during 1922 numbered 61,221 as
compared with 56,259 in 1921. The death-rate per thousand of the civil population
was 13.5 as against 12.5 in 1921. In this report, following official practice, the deathrates
are calculated upon the civil population and deaths among civilians: only
two London boroughs, however, maintain a considerable ruin-civilian population,.
namely, Westminster and Woolwich, the numbers in 1922 being 2,410 and
4,100 respectively.
The annual death-rates in London since 1840 are shown in the diagram
on the last page in relation to the mean of the rates for the seventy-two years.

It will be seen that the deaths in 1922 exceeded 1921 by 4,962 and that the
excess occurs principally at ages 1-5 years and over 35 years of age. The excess
in the earlier age-group is due to the prevalence of both whooping cough and measles
in 1922, neither disease being prevalent in 1921; in regard to the increased deaths
above 35 years, the figures for 1922 will be found very similar to those for 1919,
and in both years influenza was epidemic during the winter months.
Infant
mortality.
The death-rates from various causes in each metropolitan borough are shown
in Table I., p. 53.
In respect of infant mortality, 1922 compares favourably with 1921, the decrease
in deaths being largely due to the absence of any periods of excessive heat during