The number of adoptions that took place in Bermuda last year was more than double the figure of the year before, it was revealed yesterday.

The Registrar General's report, which was tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday, said there were 24 adoptions in 2001, compared to 11 in 2001.

And there was a huge disparity in the number of out-of-wedlock births between the parishes, with the figure at 45.9 per cent of the total number of births in Pembroke, while only 6.9 per cent of births in Paget were to unmarried women.

Meanwhile, the number of marriages continued to decline and from 1,023 in 2000 to 923 in 2001, of which 531 were between non-residents, while 321 were between residents and the remaining 71 between residents and non-residents.

There were 85 less religious ceremonial marriages last year than the year before, and also 15 less civil marriages in 2001, with 144 compared to a 2000 figure of 159.

Maritime marriages conducted on board the two cruise ships Grand Princess and Golden Princess, which are registered in Bermuda, jumped from 98 in the last half of 2000, to 331 during the whole of 2001.

However, the number of resident deaths dropped to its lowest since 1997, with a figure of 442 in 2001 contrasted by 470 in 2000, 445 in 1999 and 505 in 1998.

Out of last year's total deaths, 246 were men while 196 were women, and this is a trend that has been reflected in the statistics of the previous five years.

The number of such births last year was 37.7 per cent of the total number of live births, which is 1.8 per cent more than 2000 but less than the three years before that.

The ten multiple births that occurred last year were less than the 17 that happened in 2000 and the 12 that occurred in 1999.

In contrast to the 831 live births in Bermuda in 2001, there were 442 deaths, meaning that the population estimates for the year went up by 389 people to an overall figure of 63,412.

Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister said: "It is noteworthy that whilst there were three infant deaths in 2001, there were no deaths in this category during the preceding year. Happily, the Island's infant mortality rate continues to be very low, a phenomenon that is attributable to the generally excellent pre- and post- natal care that is available in Bermuda."