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COMMENTS ON STATISTICS
Population
The Registrar General's mid-year estimate of the population for
1961 is 40,610, a decrease of 940 on the previous year. The figure is
undoubtedly calculated on the Census figures and not on estimates. It
would appear that the figures for the past few years have been on the
high side. The number of persons per house has dropped from 3.32
to 3.22. This very slight variation is related to the population figures.
Births
The number of live births has increased by 16 as compared with
1960. This, together with the reduction in the population has slightly
increased the birth rate. The birth rate for the year is about average
for the district, but, as can be seen by reference tc the graph, is well
below the figure for England and Wales. The tendency for the birth
rate to decrease was commented upon in the last report and may have
been due to the estimated population figures being higher than the
actual.
The number of illegitimate births has increased very considerably
in 1961, but is only slightly higher than the average over the last ten
years, which is 18.8. This figure has varied during that period
between 9 and 35.
Mortality
The death rate shows a considerable increase in 1961, there in fact
being 63 more deaths which, together with the reduction in population,
has increased the figure considerably. It is higher than the
average for the last eight years, which is 10.6.
The deaths of infants under one year per 1,000 live births is 22.4.
In 1960 this figure was 20.6, while in 1959 it was 43.1, the average for
the last eight years being 24.1. Comparisons of these figures with
previous years' rates has little meaning, but the figure for the past year
is below the average.
The number of deaths from Cancer during the year is 80. This is
a little higher than in 1960, but is approximately the same as the
average for the last ten years, which is 79.1.
The number of deaths from Tuberculosis is 2. This is a very low
figure and is one which shows a continued overall reduction.
There were 6 deaths from Leukaemia, the same as in the previous
year. Over the last eleven years there have only been 23 deaths from
this disease, 12 of them occurring in the last two years. As mentioned
in my last Annual Report, this increase may only be incidental,
but the number of deaths from this disease require to be watched over
the next few years.
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