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9
In the Whitechapel district there was a decrease of nearly 25,000 in 20
years, a percentage decrease of 13.7 in 1911, and of 20.6 in 1921, so that
in 20 years the population in the Whitechapel district was reduced by more
than 30 per cent.
Taking into consideration the decrease in the population in 1921 as
compared with the Census of 1911, it is obvious that the estimated population
for the intercensal years was too high, with the result that the birth-rates
given in the annual reports were too low and the death-rates were too high.
As stated above, the decrease in the population has been less in some
parts of the Borough than in others, and this difference has caused a greater
discrepancy in the estimated population of those districts where the decrease
has been greater, with a greater error in the birth and death-rates.
The population was estimated for each of the intercensal years following
1911, as if the population had continued to decrease in the same ratio as
it did between 1901 and 1911.
The population estimated on the number of food cards issued was a
great deal below the actual population of the Census.
Another method of estimating the population is based upon the extent
of the excess of the number of births over the number of deaths in any
particular year. The excess of births over deaths is known as the " natural
increase" in the population, but the accuracy of this method rests upon the
absence of any marked difference between the immigration and emigration
associated with the district concerned.
In the Borough of Stepney there is a great deal of emigration and
immigration which varies considerably in different years, and any estimate
based upon the natural increase of the population would be almost worthless.
In any case, after a certain period since the Census was taken, all
methods of estimating the population are liable to error.
The population was distributed as follows:—
Limehouse District
52,265
40,450
103,121
53,902
St. George-in-the-East
Mile End Old Town
Whitechapel District