RELIGION AND FERTILITY IN THE OUTER HEBRIDES

Estimates of fertility in Protestant Barra and Catholic Harris, island s in the Outer Hebrides, over the period 1856-1985, show that in both islands fertility declined, although marital fertility was generally g reater than in Scotland as a whole, and illegitimate fertility was les s. However, in Barra during 1966-75 there were pronounced rises in all the indices; illegitimate fertility showed the smallest rise. The pub lication of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae may have played a part in this change in fertility, although other, probably local, factors m ust have been acting, as the first rise in numbers of births occurred before the publication of the encyclical. Other than this transient ri se, the religious difference between Harris and Barra had little effec t on changes in fertility over the whole period. Indices of proportion s married showed declines until after World War 2, followed by steep i ncreases. The marked decline in fertility in both islands may be due i n part to this low nuptiality. In addition, a trend of occupation away from traditional crofting and fishing towards more skilled mercantile and professional employment may have played a role.