DELAWARE VITAL STATISTICS REPORT AVAILABLE

The Delaware Division of Public Health's Health Statistics Center announces the availability of the 2009 Delaware Vital Statistics Annual Report. The online report includes vital statistics data compiled from birth, death, fetal death, marriage and divorce certificates.

In 2009, there were 11,989 births in Delaware, of which 10,982 were to Delaware residents and 1,007 were to non-residents. Additionally, 387 births to Delaware residents occurred out of state, for a total of 11,369 Delaware resident births, 647 fewer than in 2008.

Other highlights include:

• Delaware's general fertility rate dropped 6 percent to 65.3 births per 1,000 females aged 15-44.
• More than 50 percent of Delaware's population was female. Females made up a greater proportion of older age groups, which reflects the longer female life expectancy. Delaware females born in 2009 could expect to live an average of 81.4 years, versus males, who could expect to live 76.3 years.
• Medicaid was the primary source of payment for the majority of mothers under 20, covering 80 percent of both black and white mothers, and 77 percent of mothers of other races.
• Crude death rates for children ages 1-19 decreased by 6.8 percent between 2008 and 2009.
• Overall, death rates in Delaware continued to decline. The causes of death that increased in 2009 are dementia, kidney disease and Alzheimer's disease.
• There were 4,772 marriages and 3,169 divorces in Delaware in 2009. Over half of all divorces were of marriages that lasted less than 10 years.

The complete report, including a summary document that contains descriptive information for each section, is available at dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hp/2009.html

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.