Summary of Vital-Event Related Statistics

Live Births, Deaths, Marriages and Stillbirths, British Columbia, 1950-2001
Crude Rates of Live Births, Deaths, Marriages and Stillbirths, British Columbia, 1950-2001
Highlights to Table 1 / Figure 3

TABLE 2:
FIGURE 4:
Highlights:

Trends of Natural Population Increases, British Columbia and Canada, 1950-2001
Trends of Natural Population Increases, British Columbia and Canada, 1950-2001
Highlights to Table 2 / Figure 4

TABLE 3:
FIGURE 5:
Highlights:

Trends of Total Fertility Rates, British Columbia and Canada, 1950-2001
Trends of Total Fertility Rates, British Columbia and Canada, 1950-2001
Highlights to Table 3 / Figure 5

TABLE 4:
FIGURE 6:
Highlights:

Trends of Infant Mortality, British Columbia and Canada, 1965-2001
Trends of Infant Mortality, British Columbia and Canada, 1965-2001
Highlights to Table 4 / Figure 6

TABLE 5:
FIGURE 7:
Highlights:

Trends in Age of Bride and Groom, British Columbia, 1977-2001
Trends in Age of Bride and Groom, British Columbia, 1977-2001
Highlights to Table 5 / Figure 7

TABLE 6:
FIGURE 8
Highlights:

Live Births, Deaths, Marriages and Stillbirths by Month, British Columbia, 2001
Live Births, Deaths, Marriages and Stillbirths by Month, British Columbia, 2001
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 2001, there were 40,376 live births in the province to B.C. residents. The number of live births decreased by 118 births from 40,494 in 2000. The birth rate, 9.9 live births per 1,000 population, was the lowest birth rate to date.
There were 28,164 deaths of British Columbia residents in the province in 2001, up 3.2% from the previous year (27,300). The 2001 crude death rate was 6.9 deaths per 1,000 population.
A total of 20,554 marriages were solemnized in the province in 2001. This number represents a seven percent reduction from the 22,094 marriages in 2000. The marriage rate has shown a downward trend from 9.0 marriages per 1,000 population in 1980 to 5.0 in 2001.
There were 281 stillbirths to B.C. residents in 2001, the same number as in 2000. The stillbirth rate was 6.9 per 1,000 total births (live births and stillbirths) in 2001.

In 2001, the 40,376 births and 28,164 deaths in the province produced a rate of natural population growth of 3.0 per 1,000 population. The 2001 rate of natural population growth for B.C. was the lowest since 1950.
Based on the Total Fertility Rate, the average woman in 2001 would have 1.4 live births in her lifetime. This has been the same fertility rate for the past four 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 2001, there were 159 infant deaths (age at death less than one year) in the province, for an infant mortality rate of 3.9 per 1,000 live births. In the last eight years, there has been a fairly steady decrease in both the number of infant deaths and the infant mortality rate.
The average ages of brides and grooms have climbed steadily since 1977. In 2001, the average age of all brides was 32.2 years old, while grooms were 35.0 years old.

Personal information collected by the Vital Statistics Agency is protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and is treated with confidentiality.