In Coos and Grafton counties the dependency ratio increase is due pre- 

 dominantly to an increase in older people. In the other counties increases 

 in the number of young children accounts for the major part of the increase 

 in dependents. In Rockingham, Strafford, and Sullivan counties this is par- 

 ticularly pronounced. 



For the state as a whole 68 percent of the increase of 64 dependents 

 per 1,000 working age group is due to an increase in children and 32 percent 

 is due to an increase in older people. The increase in older people is due 

 to the aging of the population. The difference between counties, however, 

 is sufficient to show that any problems arising from increased dependents 

 will require individual consideration for each county. Coos and Grafton 

 and Merrimack counties have increased proportions of older people. Rock- 

 ingham, Strafford, and Belknap have increased proportions of young children. 



The Effect of Migration* 



The changes in dependency ratios due to migration and changes due 

 to natural causes are measured in Table 12. With the exception of the 

 southern counties of Hillsboro. Rockingham, and Strafford, the migra- 

 tion accounted for the major part of the increased dependency ratios. Rock- 

 ingham was affected more by the increased number of children under 14. 



Table 12. Relative Significance of Changes in Dependency Ratios Due to Migration 

 and Natural Causes for Counties of New Hampshire — 1940 to 1950 



1 See Appendix III. 



Migration, Birth Rate and Fertility Ratios 



The fertility ratio measures the number of children to 4 in relation 

 to the number of women 15 to 44 in the population. Comparison of this 

 ratio in 1940 with the ratio in 1950 will indicate changes in the population 

 structure due to changes in the birth rate or migration. In 1940 there were 

 in New Hampshire 337 children under 5 years of age per 1,000 women 15 

 to 44, By 1950 there were 488 such children per 1,000 women. 



See Appendix II 



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