1942: Vital Statistics

Birth, Death, and Stillbirth Statistics in 1941.

In 1941, 2,513,427 births and 1,397,642 deaths were reported to the Bureau of the Census for the United States, an increase of 153,028 births and a decrease of 19,627 deaths, as compared with the corresponding figures for the preceding year. The 1941 birth rate of 18.9 per 1,000 population represents an increase of 5.6 per cent over the rate for 1940 and was the highest recorded for the birth registration area since 1931. The birth rate by states ranged from 15.7 per 1,000 population in New York to 27.8 in New Mexico.

The death rate decreased from 10.7 in 1940 to 10.5 per 1,000 population in 1941, and was the lowest ever reported for the death registration state. The infant and maternal mortality rates also reached the lowest level in the history of the registration system. These death rates in 1941 were 45.3 and 3.2 per 1,000 live births, respectively.

As indicated by the crude death rates, there was a general decline in the death rates for the various selected causes. Of particular health significance is the substantial reduction in the death rate for influenza and pneumonia, which dropped from 70.1 per 100,000 population in 1940 to 63.7 in 1941. There has been a rapid decline in the death rate for this cause since 1937, when the influenza and pneumonia rate was 114.9.

Except for the change of motor-vehicle accidents from the eighth to the seventh position, the rank order of the leading causes of death in 1941 did not differ from that of 1940. The increase in the motor-vehicle accident death rate from 26.1 per 100,000 population in 1940 to 30.0 in 1941 displaced diabetes mellitus as the seventh leading cause of death in 1941.

The natality and mortality statistics for 1941 are of particular significance at this time, since they represent experience for the last pre-war year and will be used as a basis of comparison in determining the general effect of the war on the civilian population in 1942. Provisional figures for the first nine months since the entry of the United States into the war indicate that the 1942 birth rate will be significantly higher than that for 1941. Barring the possibility of any epidemics of unusual proportion, mortality conditions in the country promise to be the most favorable in the history of the United States.

Inter-American Unit.

The Bureau of the Census through its Division of Vital Statistics has developed an Inter-American Unit devoted to cooperation in Vital Statistics with the American Republics. The plan involves the employment of three professionally trained traveling consultants who will, upon the request of any American Republic, consult with, advise, and give technical assistance to the officials of that Republic in a cooperative endeavor to improve their vital and medical statistics organizations and data. Insofar as practicable, this work will be integrated with that of existing international organizations concerned with public health and statistics such as the Pan-American Sanitary Bureau and the Inter-American Statistical Institute.