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highest birth rate experienced in this District, but already it
has fallen to the lowest pre-war average rate.
The corresponding birth rates for England and Wales were
15.8 in 1950, and 16.7, 17.9 and 20.5 in the preceding three years.
Illegitimacy.—In 1950, of the births registered, 22 were
illegitimate (8 males and 14 females), this being slightly more
than in the preceding year. The post-war decrease in the
percentage of illegitimate births has, however, now reached the
lowest pre-war average.
Stillbirths.—The number of stillbirths registered during
1950 was 13 (9 males and 4 females), as compared with 20, 16,
31 and 40, in the preceding 4 years.
None of the stillbirths occurred in respect of illegitimate
children. The local stillbirth rate was thus 0.20 per thousand
of population, compared with 0.33, 0.25, 0.49 and 0.49 in the
4 preceding years. The stillbirth rate for England and Wales
was 0.37 in 1950.
DEATHS.
The number of deaths registered during 1950 as belonging
to this District was 615, (297 males and 318 females) as compared
with 622, 545 and 672 in the preceding 3 years.
These numbers exclude deaths which, although occurring
within the District belonged to other districts, but include deaths
of residents who died outside the District, and also non-residents
dying in the District who have previously had no permanent
place of abode. The latter group has increased of recent years,
being 22 in 1950, and 35, 24 and 32 in the preceding 3 years.
It will be seen from the table of vital statistics, that the
crude death rate for the year was equal to 9.5 per thousand
of population, as compared with 9.1 last year, and an average
of 9.7 since the war.
The age and sex distribution of the population of this
District not being typical of that of the country as a whole, a
correction is necessary. Using the comparability factor supplied
by the Registrar General it is found that the corrected death
rate was 8.8, compared with 8.5 last year.
The crude death rate for England and Wales was 12.0 in
1947, 10.8 in 1948, 11.7 in 1949, and 11.6 in 1950.
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