ENG-1946 — Page 101

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APPENDIX 2.

VITAL STATISTICS FOR 1946.

Estimated by extrapolation methods on the normal inter- censal increase, the population at mid-year 1946 would amount to 1,168,815. Inevitably, such estimates must be very approximate, since they are based on the last census which took place fifteen years ago. In view of the violent fluctuations of population since then, this figure must be regarded as considerably below the actual total which was probably not less than one and a half million. See the chapter on Popula- tion at page 9.

A. BIRTHS.

Records for births are incomplete owing to the hostilities in December, 1941, and the subsequent lack of interest in birth registration manifested by the Japanese during the period 1942-1945 (August).

Year.

1940

Births. 45,064

1941

45,000 (estimated)

1942

10,343

1943

20,732

1944

13,687

1945

1946

3,712 (to 31st August only) 31,098

The birth rate per mille in 1946 is estimated to be 26.6 as compared with 41.9 for 1940, the last year for which accurate figures are available. There is, of course, no proof that the age-sex make-up of the population was identical for the two years in question.

B. DEATHS.

While death registration was equally unsatisfactory throughout the occupation and many thousands of bodies never received burial in recognised cemeteries, such records as are available are given in the following table with those for 1940, 1941 and 1946:

Year.

Deaths.

1940

61,010

1941

61,324

1942

83,435

1943

40,117

1044

24,936

1945

1946

23,098 (to 31st August)

16,653