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Ministry of Health
Summary Summary of Vital-Event Related Statistics
TABLE 1:
FIGURE 3:
Highlights: 		Live Births, Deaths, Marriages and Stillbirths, British Columbia, 1950-2000
Crude Rates of Live Births, Deaths, Marriages and Stillbirths, British Columbia, 1950-2000
Highlights to Table 1 / Figure 3
TABLE 2:
FIGURE 4:
Highlights: 		Trends of Natural Population Growth, British Columbia and Canada, 1950-2000
Trends of Natural Population Growth, British Columbia and Canada, 1950-2000
Highlights to Table 2 / Figure 4
TABLE 3:
FIGURE 5:
Highlights: 		Trends of Total Fertility Rates, British Columbia and Canada, 1950-2000
Trends of Total Fertility Rates, British Columbia and Canada, 1950-2000
Highlights to Table 3 / Figure 5
TABLE 4:
FIGURE 6:
Highlights: 		Trends of Infant Mortality, British Columbia and Canada, 1965-2000
Trends of Infant Mortality, British Columbia and Canada, 1965-2000
Highlights to Table 4 / Figure 6
TABLE 5:
FIGURE 7:
Highlights: 		Trends in Age of Bride and Groom, British Columbia, 1977-2000
Trends in Age of Bride and Groom, British Columbia, 1977-2000
Highlights to Table 5 / Figure 7
TABLE 6:
FIGURE 8
Highlights: 		Live Births, Deaths, Marriages and Stillbirths by Month, British Columbia, 2000
Live Births, Deaths, Marriages and Stillbirths by Month, British Columbia, 2000
Highlights to Table 6 / Figure 8

Summary

Summary statistics are presented in this section. Historical information allows readers to examine the changes in annual live birth, stillbirth, death, and marriage rates. Tables and graphs show trends in natural population growth, total fertility, infant mortality, and age of bride and groom. Information on vital events by month is also provided.

Since 1950, as the population of British Columbia tripled, demographic and social changes had significant impacts on vital events. Provincial rates for marriages, fertility, live births and stillbirths fell to about half the rates seen in 1950, while mortality rates declined by nearly a third. The most striking change was a dramatic decline in infant mortality.

  • In 2000, there were 40,467 live births in the province to B.C. residents. The number of live births decreased by 1,273 births from 41,740 in 1999. The birth rate, 10.0 live births per 1,000 population, was the lowest birth rate to date.

  • There were 27,273 deaths of British Columbia residents in the province in 2000, down slightly from the previous year (27,829). The 2000 crude death rate, 6.7 deaths per 1,000 population, was the lowest death rate to date.

  • A total of 22,074 marriages were solemnized in the province in 2000. This number represents a slight increase from the 21,623 marriages in 1999. The marriage rate has shown a downward trend in the last two decades, from 9.0 marriages per 1,000 population in 1980 to 5.4 in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

  • There were 279 stillbirths to B.C. residents in 2000, a decrease from 294 in 1999. The stillbirth rate was 6.9 per 1,000 total births (live births and stillbirths) in 2000.
  • In 2000, the 40,467 births and 27,273 deaths in the province produced a rate of natural population growth of 3.2 per 1,000 population. The 2000 rate of natural population growth for B.C. was the lowest since 1950.

  • Based on the Total Fertility Rate, the average woman in 2000 would have 1.3 live births in her lifetime, the lowest fertility rate in recent years. This is a significant decrease from the peak in 1959, when the average woman would have had nearly 4.0 live births in her child bearing years.

  • In 2000, there were 148 infant deaths (age at death less than one year) in the province, for an infant mortality rate of 3.7 per 1,000 live births, a record low rate for British Columbia.

  • The average ages of brides and grooms have climbed steadily since 1977. In 2000, the average age of all brides was 32.1 years old, while grooms were 34.8 years old.