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ANALYSIS OF VITAL STATISTICS
1. The Registrar General's mid-year estimate of population for
1959 is 41,360, an increase of 140 on the previous year and an increase
of 390 on 1957. There is a slight increase of population year
by year which is probably due to natural causes. The number of
persons per house has increased now being 3.34. In 1958 this figure
showed a decrease on the preceeding year but the figure for 1959 is
still below that of 1957.
2. The number of live births has decreased by 63 compared with
1958 and 15 compared with 1957. The birth rate for the district has
dropped this year and is below the average for the last five years. In
comparison with the rest of England and Wales the difference has
increased. This, however, may only be an exceptional year, the next
few years will show whether or not the rate for the district is tending
to decrease.
The number of illegitimate births has increased over 1958, being
19 as compared with 14. However, the average illegitimate births
over the last ten years is 18.5 per annum and has fluctuated in that
period between 9 & 35 in any one year.
3. The death rate for the year shows a very slight drop on 1958
and as can be seen from the graph is below that of the rest of the
country. The average rate for the last six years for this district is
10.3. The method of calculating the death rate was changed in 1953
and the figures prior to that date cannot be compared with later
figures.
This year for the first time the figures compiled by the Public
Health Department show a considerable difference to those supplied
by the Registrar General—our figures being 17 less. In spite of all
efforts and methods of checking it has not been possible to find
where this difference has occurred and the figures used in this report
are those compiled by the Public Health Department.
4. This has been a very bad year in regard to infantile mortality
there having been 20 deaths of infants under one year, giving a rate
of 43.1 per 1,000 live births. This figure is more than double the
average rate for the last 6 years, of 21.1.
5. The total deaths from Cancer in 1959 is 68 as compared with
87 in 1958 and 1957. The number of deaths from Cancer of the
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