Bermuda's population grew by 426 from 2001 to 2002, according to the latest annual report from the Registrar General.

The report, tabled in the House of Assembly, revealed that Bermuda had experienced an average annual population increase of 407.5 persons since the 2000 census and was estimated to stand at 63,125 at the end of 2002.

In 1998, according to the Registry General, the resident population was just over 62,200, jumped to 62,656 in 1999, but fell to 62,310 in 2000.

In 2001, the population increased to 62,699.

The statistics do not take into account the effects on population of emigration and migration but are based on the difference between the numbers of deaths and births registered in any given year, using the 2000 census as a baseline.

The number of births over the five-year period beginning in 1998 came to 4,147, while a total of 2,266 deaths were recorded.

Of the births, 1,549 were out of wedlock while 2,598 were to married parents.

Mothers in the 16 to 20 aged group accounted for the largest number of out of wedlock births (388) followed closely by 21 to 24-year-old mothers who brought 359 children into the planet, and 25 to 29 year old mothers who added another 345 newborns.

Thirty to 34 year old women accounted for 252 births, while 144 babies were born to women in the 35 to 39 year age group.

Just 50 out of wedlock babies were born to women aged 40 to 44 over the period, while one child was born to a woman between 45 and 49 and that was in 1998.

For married mothers, the age distribution was significantly different, with the most number of babies (1,026) being born to the 30 to 34 age group.

Married teenage mothers accounted for 31 births, while the 21- to 24-year-olds gave birth to 144 children ? almost identical to the number of births for the 40 to 44 year old married mothers (141).

Just three children were born to 45 to 49 year old married mothers during the period, and in the 25 to 29 and 35 to 39 age group, 604 and 649 live births were reported respectively.

The report also shows a slight decline in the annual number of religious marriages. In 2002 778 such marriages were recorded, the lowest statistic for the period which saw a peak of 920 religious marriages in 1999.

But religious marriages are still by far the most popular form of getting hitched in Bermuda with a total of 4,228 for the period, compared to 781 civil marriages.

Of the 5,009 marriages, the majority (2,954) were between non-residents, while 1,720 were between residents.

Another 335 were mixed marriages ? between a resident and a non-resident.

And 500 marriages were recorded on board three ships in 2002.

Total number of deaths recorded for the five year period came to 2,266, of which 1,176 were male and 1,090 were female.

The highest number of deaths recorded was 505, in 1998. In 2002, the 404 deaths were recorded.