ABSTRACT
ESIDES the pre-war and post-war phenomena B of the rate of natural increase in a population, actually connected with war equilibrium, there is another, the trend of the growth of population, dependent on the causes acting for longer periods. So, examining the recent growth of population in Western Europe,l we find that during thirty years, 1880-1909, the population grew a t a moderate rate or that the rate of natural increase slackened ; the period, until towards its end, was interrupted by considerable emigration, which was reduced later except in one or two cases. In the United Kingdom the marriage rate, measured crudely by the total population, declined 8 per cent. from 1870 to 1905 ; measured more accurately by the marriageable part of the population (15-45 age), it has declined 19 per cent. The birthrate, measured crudely, has fallen 23 per cent. in thirtyfive years ; measured by the female population of ages from 15 to 45, it has fallen 29 per cent. Illegitimate births declined nearly 52 per cent., and legitimate 24 per cent.2 The decline of the birth-rate is explained in some small part by the diminished illegitimacy, in larger part by the diminished proportion of the married to the unmarried, and about three-fourths by limitation of the size of families.
