Evening star., 1932-07-31

the structure Of the popula-
Y tion of most highly civilized
~ countries, and a gradual fall
ing off in the birth rates, in
dicating either an eventual balanced
population or national decadence, Is in
dicated in official vital statistics which
have been compiled by the health Sec
ton of the League of Nations.
England, France, italy and Germany
all show rapidly declining birth rates,
with the death rates practically sta
tionary, according to official figures
The birth rate in Great Britain for the
first four months Of 1882 was the
lowest on record, showing just over Is
births for every 1000 of population.
In 1876 Britain's birth rate was just
over 36 per 1000 population. In 1900
it had dropped to %; in 1913, just be-
fore the World War. it was "a; last
year it was just below 16.
Germanys record shows the maxi
mum in decline in both birth rates and
death rates. Since the opening Of the
twentieth century Germanys birth rate
had decreased AZ per cent and her
death rate 80 per cent. In 1913 her
births per 1000 population were about
81 yearly; last year they were only 16,
the lowest on record. By arresting her
death rate Germany, as well as AUS
tria, Hungary and few other states,
has been able to mitigate the enects OF
diminishing fecundity. Had death
rates remained stationary her loss OF
natural-born population would have
been twice what 1t Is.
Italy, where Premier Mussolini Is
seeking to artiflcially bolster up the
youth of his nation, presents a para
Gox Because the death rate has de-
ciined more than the birth rate, Italy
shows a markedly increasing popula-
tion. However, in 1884 there were 81
births annually to 1000 population; IN
eOo it had dropped to 33, and now II
is about IS per 1,00O.
France Leads Other Countries.
France. where the global population
has been approximately stationary Tor
| the past 60 years, for long time was
at the bottom of the list among civilized
nations in regard to birth rates. Now
she stands ahead Of Britain, Austria,
Sweden. Norway and Switzerland. But
even at that figures show that where
births in France were 100000 in 1868
and 915,O0O in 1891. they had dropped
tn TAI 900 in 1880 and were still drop
| ming. Without the stimulus of emigra-
| tion it is estimated that before the De
ginning of the next century france
population will have decreased by one
half
| Although the United States was not
| included in the 20 countries considered
| in the survey, a similar tendency is
noted there according 10 American
census returns. In 1921 the birth rate
was around "a per 1000; in 1880 it had
dropped to l8. The prospect is that 1t
| will continue to diminish during the
| next decade. The rate of population
increase 40 years ago was approxi-
mately 8 per cent; 20 years ago it was
| per cent; today it is l per cent; in
| 10 years from now it Is predicted it will
! be about Il per cent,
OF European countries Poland is the
+! only one to show an Increased birth
rate; of extra-European countries,
! Japan.
century out of the 20 countries studied
| 1their populations compose one-third
| of the population of the globe) nine
! show a decreased birth rate OF more
than a third; eight others show de-
clines Of from % to IS per cent.
Figures Arc OHSct.
The death rate has declined more
than the birth rate only in the Uk-
raine, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Italy
| and Holland. In Bulgaria, Australia,
Hungary and France decrease in death
rates have Offset the diminishing births
From the point Of view OF the total
increase in population resulting from
movements in the birth rate and death
rate the average increase in recent
years shows no general diminution over
20 or 80 years ago, but in specific cases
such as Britain, Germany, Norway
Sweden and Belgium. countries which
stand high in the scale of civilized ma
tions-the natural increase today is
about one-quarter Of what it was rs
years ago For Austria. Switzerland
and France the diminution is so Der
cent. Japan, Portugal, Spain, Ireland
and Russia show greater natural in
creases than they did in 1900.
An interesting deduction from the
survey is that mortality today is sub.
stantially the same in rural as in urban
districts, while the birth rate is lower
In towns than it is in the country
Likewise. the proportion Of elderly