This paper examines the background to the recent growth in the number of remarriages of the divorced, tracing the increasing trend in divorce and subsequent remarriage in the last decade. The characteristics of such remarriages are analysed: their manner of solemnization, the distribution of ages at remarriage, seasonal variations, and the differences between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. Finally, the topical issue of remarriage of the divorced in church is discussed from a statistical standpoint, and variations by county presented in the form of maps.

Assortative mating for age and several anthropometric characteristics is considered in a sample of 68–70 husband-wife pairs from a rural Zapotec-speaking community in the Valley of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. Conditions in the community with a population of approximately 1700 indicate chronic, mild-to-moderate undernutrition as reflected in high infant mortality rates, smaller body size of school children, and delayed biological maturation. Phenotypic assortative mating, as expressed in husband-wife correlations, is significant for age (r = 0·96), stature (r = 0·35) and grip strength (r = 0·29), but is not significant for body weight (r = 0·01), arm circumference (r = 0·07), the estimated midarm muscle circumference (r = 0·003), Quetelet's index (r = 0·02), and the ponderal index (r = 0·11). Controlling for age of husband and wife reduces the correlations for stature (r = 0·24) and grip strength (r = 0·12), but increases those for arm circumference (r = 0·21) and estimated midarm muscle circumference (r = 0·16). Grouping the spouses into younger (under 30 years of age) and older (30 years and older) results in significant spouse correlations for age, stature, arm circumference and estimated midarm muscle circumference in the younger group and for only age and fatness in the older group.

The applicability of the Coale-McNeil marriage entry model to a Bangladesh population is examined. The distribution of ages at entry into the marriage market is taken as normal and the general waiting times to marriage as negative exponential. This article examines two types of data from Bangladesh: (1) the distributions of ages at entry to the marriage market and waiting times, to verify the basic assumptions of the model, and (2) cross-sectional survey data, to derive the fitted first-marriage schedule. In both instances, the model showed a good fit with the Bangladesh data. In the absence of accurate marital registration data, the model may be appropriately utilized to estimate the ages of marriage of females in Bangladesh.

The children in the cohort followed by the National Child Development Study were tested for cognitive ability at the age of eleven, and the influence of a number of biological and social variables was sought on the results of tests of reading, mathematics, verbal and non-verbal abilities. Reading relates strongly to social class, birth order and parental age, suggesting strong social influences upon it, but it is also related to height and acquired myopia, suggesting biological influences. Mathematics ability relates to social class and parental age, but not to birth order, but its relationship with height, birthweight and maternal smoking suggests biological effects. Verbal ability and non-verbal ability have relatively few correlates apart from sex and region. It appears that different cognitive abilities show different relationships to social, biological and personal variables.

A new approach is suggested for assessing the relationship between birth order and pregnancy risk. Population data are used to estimate the risk of a poor pregnancy outcome after different reproductive histories. The risk of a poor outcome at the first pregnancy appears to be twice that at subsequent pregnancies, but no change in risk is observed between the second and fifth birth orders. If there has been a previous poor pregnancy outcome, the risk of another is increased four-fold.

In the absence of reliable fertility statistics in the Sudan, estimates are based on census or sample survey data. Methods of analysis are applied which are suitable to the kind and quality of the collected information. This paper uses data provided by the World Fertility Survey of the Sudan. The number of children ever born tabulated by the duration of marriage is used to derive an estimate of the age pattern of fertility. The level of natural fertility is found to be low. However, the calculated crude birth rate is high and consistent with rates calculated by other methods using different data.

The present paper is based on data from the Nepal Fertility Survey 1976 and examines the fertility differentials in Nepal by socioeconomic variables. Of all the variables examined in this study marital duration is found to have the greatest impact on fertility. With standardization for marital duration, women in the mountains have a lower number of children ever-born than women in the hills and terai. Education of husbands rather than wives seems to affect fertility in Nepal.

The paper uses multiple regression analysis to examine the variation in fertility among Indian Tamil concentrations in the Grama Sevaka divisions of Sri Lanka. Significant contributions are made by the proportion of females employed in agriculture, and the proportion of females aged 5–14 attending school, which together account for 85% of the variability. These variables serve as an index to the underlying attitudes to fertility and reproductive behaviour.

This paper examines the levels, trends and Kuwaiti–non-Kuwaiti differentials in stillbirth, infant and child mortality rates during the 1957–79 period. The present infant mortality rate (33 per 1000) and its component parts are high in contrast to those in more developed countries. But during the last few decades, the rates showed definite decline. The decline in infant and child mortality was rapid between 1955 and 1970 when the infant death rate was about 100 or more per thousand livebirths, but slowed after the infant mortality rates were brought down to around 50 in 1970. The large scale reduction in mortality since 1950 is closely associated with socioeconomic progress and improvements in standards of living as well as wider availability and better accessibility of health services. Kuwait is still in a position where mortality can be reduced further, provided that investment in health and education continues.

Seasonal or monthly fluctuations in suicides and homicides were analysed using US mortality data for the years 1969–78, using periodic regression analysis. The results were generally consistent (year-to-year) over the 10-year period. The pattern for suicide was distinctly seasonal: it was above average all spring and below average all winter. For homicides, the pattern was more monthly, with July–September and December being above average times and January–June being below average.

This paper assesses the Australian data on the current use of family planning during the 1970s. The problems of comparing the results of various surveys, and of reconciling these results with Department of Health statistics, are discussed. In spite of an unfortunate lack of comparability between the various sources, the switch from oral contraceptives to sterilization is well-marked. Whereas the IUD has maintained its popularity, natural methods are shown to be of declining importance.

This paper reports the first data on historical population structure in white Australians. Vital records and census data from two Tasmanian registration districts, Oatlands and Bothwell, were examined using surname analysis to investigate population structure in the nineteenth century. Both were colonising populations and therefore initially had massive immigration and a very high sex ratio. Inbreeding, as measured by marital isonymy, was relatively high in Oatlands, especially in the context of its short history. Although genetic continuity, measured by surname constancy, was relatively low, a small but distinct core was detectable. Bothwell, the smaller community, exhibited very little inbreeding and, concomitantly, low surname constancy. The coefficient of relationship by isonymy between Oatlands and Bothwell was extremely low. These findings are discussed in the context of the known socio-political history of this region of Tasmania.