The year 2000 saw the second highest number of multiple births in Bermuda while the number of marriages conducted on the Island fell, according to the Registrar General's report which was tabled in the House on Friday.

There were no infant deaths recorded - a first since 1937.

Maritime Marriages made their debut in 2000 with the registration of the first cruise ship on which marriages were legally authorised to take place.

Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox, tabling the report, said income from maritime marriages will increase as more cruise ships join the Bermuda Register.

To date 265 maritime marriages have taken place - 98 of them in 2000 on board the Grand Princess which was registered in May 2000 to conduct the marriages.

In May the Golden Princess became the second cruise ship on which marriages could be conducted. The marriages contributed $56,000 to Government coffers, said Ms Cox.

Marriages overall registered a 6.4 per cent decline over 1999.

Of the 1,023 marriages taking place during 2000, 587 were between non-residents - outstripping the number of marriages between residents (375). And there were 61 marriages between locals and non-residents.

More than half (56 percent) of 2000's marriages were conducted in places other than churches or the registry general. And most of the marriages (864) were religious ceremonies.

In church marriages accounted for 253 of the total and civil marriages, conducted at the registry general, accounted for 159.

Ms Cox said that it was "very significant" that there were no infant deaths in 2000 "especially when one recalls that the number of infant deaths has exceeded 60 on several occasions since recording began" in 1937. "Regrettably the 2000 infant (less than one year old) mortality rate of zero will not be repeated in 2001".

Seventeen sets of twins were born in 2000 - missing by one the record set in 1998. Total live births came to 837, of which 36 percent were out of wedlock births, representing a rate of 13.3 per 1000. There were 496 deaths, giving a natural population increase of 367. According to the report the population stands at 63,023 not taking into account immigration.

The number of babies born to women 20 years old and under was at 81 for 2000 compared to the 1997 peak of 105.

In 2000, just one baby was born to someone under 16. Women in the 30-34 age group accounted for 267 babies, followed closely by the 25-29 age group at 201. One hundred and 62 babies were born to women between 35 and 39 years old.