RECORD NUMBER OF BIRTHS
The birth-rate in New Zealand last year was the highest since 1925 and the number of births registered, 32,788, was easily the greatest ever recorded, exceeding the previous peak of 29,921 in 1920 by almost 3000. Last year’s total was about 4000 above that of 1939, and it is of interest to note that the number of births registered during the last six months of 1940 exceeded the total for the first half of the year by 2358. From 18.73 births for every 1000 of population in 1939, the figure rose last year to 21.20. The number of infant deaths increased from 808 to 996, but the proportion to every 1000 live births fell from 31.14 to 30.38, this figure representing a new low record for the country. The general death rate showed a Very slight advance on the previous year’s total at 14,283, compared with 14,158. This practically stationary position of the death rate, combined with the abnormal rise in the birth rate, resulted in a natural increase rate of 11.95 for every 1000 of population, a substantial improvement on the 1939 rate of 9.53.
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Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 24367, 22 February 1941, Page 8
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190RECORD NUMBER OF BIRTHS Southland Times, Issue 24367, 22 February 1941, Page 8
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