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BIRTHS.
During the year 1952, 751 births were registered as occurring
in the District, of which 370 were male and 367 were female,
compared with 782 in 1951. It will be seen by reference to the
above table that this is equal to an annual birth rate of 11.7 per
1,000 population, as compared with 12.2, 11.7, 13.0, 14.6 and 17.0
in the previous five years. The rate of 17.6 in 1946 was the
highest birth rate experienced in this District, but in 1952 it was
again equivalent to the lowest pre-war average rate.
The corresponding birth rates for England and Wales were
15.3 in 1952 and 15.5, 15.8, 16.7, 17.9 and 20.5 in the preceding
five years.
Illegitimacy.—In 1952, of the births registered, 14 were
illegitimate (9 males and 5 females), this being 10 less than in the
preceding year. The percentage of illegitimate births was thus
well below the lowest pre-war average, and one of the lowest
noted in the District.
Stillbirths.—The number of stillbirths registered during 1952
was only 9 (8 males and 1 female), which is also much lower than
in any recent year. One of the stillbirths occurred in respect of
an illegitimate child. The local stillbirth rate of 0.14 per thousand
of population was the lowest recorded locally. The stillbirth rate
for England and Wales was 0.35 in 1952.
DEATHS.
The number of deaths registered during 1952 as belonging
to this District was 656 (319 males and 337 females), as compared
with 739, 615, 622, 545 and 672 in the preceding five 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 37 in 1952 and 40, 22, 35, 24 and 32 in the preceding 5 years.
It will be seen from the table of vital statistics that the crude
death rate for the year was equal to 10.2 per thousand of population,
as compared with 11.5 last year, and an average of 9.9
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 9.4
compared with 10.6 last year; this is also comparable with the
crude death rate for England and Wales which was 10.8 in 1948,
11.7 in 1949, 11.6 in 1950, 12.5 in 1951, and 11.3 in 1952.
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