LOW DEATH RATE IN EUROPE IN 1947 “ASTOUNDING”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22915, 6 April 1949, Page 5

LOW DEATH RATE IN EUROPE IN 1947 “ASTOUNDING”

GENEVA, April 4.

The World Health Organisation reported tonight that the low 1947 death rates in war-ravaged Europe—the lowest in most nations’ history—were "truly astounding’’. Nearly every country of the world from which data was received, except Eire and Rumania, recorded lower rates in 1947 than before the war. France, which before the war never had a death rate of less than 15 per 1000 recorded a 1947 figure of 13.

Italy’s 1947 death rate of 11.3 per 1000 was equal to Switzerland’s and lower than Britain’s.

Britain recorded a 1947 figure of 12.1 about the same as her pre-war average. The Health Organisation’s report predicted that the general death rate throughout Europe would be even lower in 1948.

Data was received from all European countries except Russia, Poland, Yugosalvia, Albania, Greece. Turkey and the Soviet zones of Germany. The Netherlands continued to enjoy the lowest general death rate in the world—only 8.1 per 1000 in 1947 —and a further drop is forecast for 1948. Rumania has easily the highest 1947 death rate in Europe with 21.1. Eire followed with 14.9 —about .7 over her pre-war average.

The report said that little information is available from, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

In post-war Japan the death rate "seems to be continuing toward a level far below that of the pre-war years.” The decrease in the death rate in Central and South America was described as impressive, especially in Mexico and Chile.