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STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE AREA.
SITE AND AREA. The County Borough of West Ham lies in the County of Essex within
an area about 4 miles from north to south, and about 2 miles from east to west (4,689 acres).
It is bounded on the north by the Boroughs of Leyton and Wanstead and Woodford, by the
County Borough of East Ham on the East, on the south by the River Thames, and to the West by
the Metropolitan Boroughs of Poplar and Hackney. The area is flat and low lying varying from
5 to 45 feet above sea level.
POPULATION, The estimated home population in 1955 was 167,900. This is a
decrease of 700 on the estimated population for 1954•
BIRTH RATE. Live Births. The number of live births during the year was 2,590 (males
1,337 and females 1,253). This gives a crude rate of 15.4 per 1,000 total population; the
rate for 1954 was 16.2. The adjusted birth rate for 1955 is 14.0 per 1,000 population which
compares with a rate of 15.0 for England and Wales and 14,9 for the 160 County Boroughs and
Great Towns (including London). Illegitimate births account for 14-7, or 5.6 per cent, of
all live births-the rate for 1954 was 4.9 per cent.
Still Births. There were 51 stillbirths (24 males and 27 females) giving
a rate of 19.3 per 1,000 total births compared with a rate of 23.2 for England and Wales.
DEATHS. During the year l,64l (males 903 females 569) West Ham residents died,
giving a crude death rate of 9.7 per 1,000 population. The adjusted death rate per 1,000
population is 11.4 which compares with the death rate of 11.7 fox England and Wales and
11.6 for the 160 County Borough and Great Towns (including London). The causes of death
at different periods of life, distinguishing male and female, are given in Appendix I, page 156.
INFANT MORTALITY. The deaths of children under 1 year of age numbered 56 (males 33
and females 23) giving an infant mortality of 21.6 per 1,000 live births as against 21.5
for 1954. The rate for England and Wales was 24.9 and for the l60 County Borough and Great
Towns (including London) 25.1. The list of causes of death can be found in Appendix I, page 156.
of this report.
MATERNAL MORTALITY, During the year there was 1 death from maternal causes, as
against 2 deaths in 1954. The maternal mortality rate for England and Wales was 0.64.
See page 56 of this report for further details.
ADJUSTED BIRTH AND DEATH RATES. In order to make an approximate allowance for the
way in which the sex and age distribution of the local population differs from that for
England and Wales as a whole, each authority is given an area comparability factor. This
factor enables the local crude birth and death rates to be adjusted to compensate for these
local characteristics. When so adjusted the rates are comparable with the crude rate for
England and Wales or with the corresponding adjusted rate for other areas.
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