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16
BIRTH RATES.
The total number of Births registered in the Borough of
Lewisham during the year 1908 was 3,632. Of this total 1,881
were males and 1,751 females.
The birth rate for Lewisham is therefore 22.8 per 1,000
inhabitants, compared with 23.7 in the previous year, and 25.0
the average for the past six years.
The birth rate for London was 25.2 per 1,000, or 2.4
per 1,000 in excess of this Borough.
Of the total births, 473 were registered in the Lee
division, 2,058 in Lewisham division, and 1,101 in Sydenham
and Forest Hill division.
Declining Birth Rate.—The year 1907 had credit for
the lowest birth rates on record for England and Wales (26.3),
the 76 Great Towns (27.0) and London (25.6). During 1908,
however, England and Wales, according to the RegistrarGeneral's
Returns, shows a slight increase, the rate being 26*5
per 1,000 inhabitants. On the other hand the birth rate for the
70 Great Towns remained stationary with 27.0 and the London
rate has fallen to 25.2.
On examining Table 2 it will be seen that 22.8 is the
lowest rate recorded in Lewisham, and 2.2 below the average
rate for the past six years.
The wide range in the birth rates of the various districts
is shown by the following extreme rates recorded amongst the
76 Great Towns:—Hastings 15.5, Hornsey 16.1, Bournemouth
17.1, Halifax 19.0, Bradford 20.2, Northampton 20.9, Brighton