A Demographic Study of an Eskimo Village on the North Slope of Alaska

Abstract

Presents data on the 308 Eskimos of Wainwright obtained in July-Aug 1968 by a team under auspices of the US International Biological Programme. The geneological data and reproductive histories taken from 47 women informants reveal high fecundity, twin-birth rate and infant mortality, also a marked differential survival of children: 20% were responsible for 47% of the living offspring. The group median age was 16.1 yr; 67 were hybrids. Mortality rates have declined with improved health care and hygenic measures. Recent introduction of birth control will make the birth rate, rather than survival, the determinant of genetic content of succeeding generations.