View report page

2
COUNTY BOROUGH OF CROYDON.
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
For the Year 1951.
S. L. WRIGHT, M.D., M.R.C.P., D.P.H
To the Chairman and Members of the Health Committee.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to present the 52nd Annual Report on the
health of the people of Croydon and the relevant services of the
Corporation for the year ending December 31st, 1951.
In the year under review there was carried out the first census
io be taken since 1931. From the preliminary report issued by the
Registrar-General, Croydon had a "de facto" population (the
actual number counted in Croydon as' present at midnight on
8-4-51) of 249,592. In due course when the analysis of all returns
shows who normally lived elsewhere, and how many Croydon
residents were counted at a place of temporary residence, a second
total, the "de jure" population, will be available. This figure will
probably be somewhat larger than the preliminary Croydon census
figure and closer to the Registrar-General's estimate. During the
interval 1921 to 1931, the census population of Croydon increased
by 21.7 percent, and between 1931 and 1951, by 7.1 percent. The
ratio of females to males remained relatively unchanged at 1,164
females to every .1,000 males. As counted on 8-4-51, there was an
actual female excess of 18,958. Owing to the greater longevity of
women, there is an overall female excess for the country as a
whole, but the ratio is highest in London and Southern England.
It is higher in Croydon than London. The Registrar-General
suggests that these areas are more attractive to women because of
opportunities for employment, and for those who have retired from
work.