CHAPTER XII 
RELATION OF ORIGINS TO FERTILITY, INFANT MORTALITY, 
BLINDNESS AND DEAF MUTISM 
FERTILITY OF THE PEOPLES OF CANADA 
Natural increase is a subject of first importance in any study of population. This is 
aspecially true in Canada, where the population is composed of many diverse elements. 
[mmigration brings new stocks into the country. These stocks reproduce. At first the 
yearly influx of immigrants may keep pace with or exceed the additions by natural increase. 
[t is only a matter of time, however, before the annual number of births becomes greater 
than the annual increase due to immigration. If émmigrant stocks reproduce more rapidly 
shan the basic stocks of the country, they must eventually outnumber them. How soon 
hat condition will come about depends on (1) the number of immigrants in the first 
instance, (2) the numbers immigrating each year, and (3) the difference in the fertility 
rates. It is immaterial whether the general level of the rates of reproduction be high or 
low. So long as differences in the rates exist, the population structure changes. Such 
changes are much more rapid than is commonly supposed. . 
The 1921 census furnished data from which important inferences may be drawn in 
respect to the rates of natural increase. The 1926 census makes possible a more definite 
:ompanison of birth rates, Statistics of 1921 will be examined first, and then those of 1926. 
Proportions of Children in the Several Origin Groups—Table 131 shows the percentage 
of each stock in Canada below 10 years of age as on June 1, 1921. Approximately one 
quarter of the total population of Canada was under 10 years of age on that date. The 
existence of such variation as appears in the table is remarkable. The seven origin groups 
with the highest and the seven with the lowest percentages are as follows: 
The Upper Group 
| Percentage 
under 
Origin 10 years 
of age 
Jkrainian. ..... TT 
\ustrian........ J ——— 
BOI. conv visinn cnininn wuwsmpn prowess aren 
ADI voces vine sronpny srennry srvrmEnaTEs 
2oHEN. cove corms Liban Stet Baa 
JUNGATIAN Lovee iii een 
Russian......... fe rraerenn. 
36-60 
35-31 
35-31 
34-64 
33-70 
33-67 
12.91 
The Lower Group 
+ Percentage- 
under 
10 years 
of age 
shinese........... —. 
Bulgaria. ....oeveeens FEAST 
JOObON.cumiunins vavumnn pusmons CEERI Baa: 
PIL pu anvipnnnn avi ssinss PRRINRAS SAEED SRS 
dnglish. ooo ieee, 
NOEIO. «titre esavarnaseeaeensaessasnniananss 
VOI oe aa 
5-18 
14-27 
20-70 
20-00 
21-61 
21-96 
22.33 
It is significant that all the stocks in the group showing the highest percentages under 
10 years of age are from Eastern and Central Europe. Included among them are the four 
principal Slavic peoples in Canada. On the other hand, among the seven origin groups 
showing the lowest percentages are found all four British stocks and the Negroes. : 
What is the meaning of a high or low percentage under 10 years of age? The following 
‘actors would seem to be among the chief influences determining the size of the figures: 
first, birth rate; second, infant mortality rate; third, extent, date, age and sex distribution 
of immigration; fourth, emigration; fifth, death rate. A high birth rate makes for a high 
percentage of children in the population; a high infant mortality rate works in the opposite 
direction. If ithmigration has been great compared with the numbers of a given stock 
already in Canada, and if it has been heavy in very recent years, one would expect a 
smaller percentage of children, because an immigrant population normally shows a higher 
proportion at adult ages. On the other hand, if immigration is of comparatively large 
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