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14
This year the Registrar-General has given his estimate of the
mid-year population of Romford as 65,920 which compares with
57,960 last year, an increase of 7,960. It will noted that this is a
substantial increase on the mid-year population for 1939, which was
given as 57,460.
As there has been practically no development since 1939, and,
as several houses had to be written-off as a total loss, owing to enemy
action, the increase in the population has of necessity led to undesirable
overcrowding.
For comparative purposes the Registrar-General includes Romford
amongst the 148 smaller towns with populations ranging from
25,00 to 50,000 at the 1931 Census, and in this list Romford takes
7th place. As a matter of fact, there are a number of great towns,
that is to say towns with a population greater than 50,000 at the
1931 Census, with a population now less than Romford.
During 1946, the total number of live births registered was
1,462, and the total number of deaths registered was 641. The
difference of 821 gives the natural increase in the population. As
this number falls short of the Registrar-General's estimated increase
of 7,960, it follows that the balance of 7,139 is made up of excess
of Immigration over Emigration.
For 1946, we estimate the Birth Rate to be 22.2 per 1,000 of
the estimated resident population, an increase of 2.6 compared to
1945. This is the highest rate since 1920, which was 22.8.
The Rate for England and Wales for 1946 is given as 19.1, and
for the 148 smaller towns with populations ranging from 25,000 to
50,000 at the 1931 Census, the Rate is 21.3.
The Death Rate for Romford is estimated at 9.7 per 1,000 of
the estimated resident population. For last year the rate was 10.8.
The comparable rates for England and Wales, and for the 148
smaller towns, as referred to above, are 11.5 and 11.7 respectively.
The chief causes of death in order of frequency were:—1.
Diseases of Heart and Circulation; 2. Cancer; 3. Bronchitis, Pneumonia,
and Other Respiratory Diseases; 4. All Forms of Tuberculosis.
The order remains the same as pre-war.
The Maternal Mortality Rate, which is the number of Maternal
Deaths, due to conditions associated with pregnancy or confinement,
per 1,000 total (live and still) births is 0.7. The corresponding rate
for England and Wales is 1.43.
The Infant Mortality Rate, or the Death Rate of Infants under
1 year of age per 1,000 live births is 41.7 a rise of 1.3. The corresponding
figures for England and Wales, and the 148 smaller towns
are 43.0 and 37.0 respectively.