statistics.

And that means an average increase per year of around 380 people since the last census was carried out nine years ago, taking the number of people on the Island up to about 62,656.

The male/female breakdown is still in favour of women -- 32,019 of the population compared to 30,258 men.

Up to the end of last year there were 824 live babies born to Island residents with boys outnumbering girls by 415 to 409.

A total of 315 (38.3 percent) of these births were out of wedlock.

The out-of-wedlock figure is marginally down on the 1998 statistics, when 39 percent of births were to parents who were not married.

Pembroke, the Island's most populated parish, is Bermuda's most fertile parish as well with nearly a quarter (22.2 percent) of births registered to addresses there.

Pembroke also recorded the highest number of in-wedlock births (89) and the highest out of wedlock (94).

Four other births were logged -- all of them to non-resident parents temporarily in Bermuda.

There was only one recorded still birth last year and three infant deaths, up two on the previous year.

A total of 445 Island residents died in 1999, while eight visitors' deaths were recorded.

Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Paula Cox -- who tabled the Registrar General's report for 1999 in the House of Assembly on Friday -- said there were almost 1,100 marriages in Bermuda last year.

More than 360 of them were between residents of Bermuda, while 666 were between non-residents. A further 66 weddings were between a resident and a non-resident.

And people -- whether resident or not -- continue to favour religious ceremonies.

A total of 920 marriages were carried out by men of the cloth (84 percent), with just 173 ceremonies (16 percent) carried out in the Registrar General's Office.

Ms Cox said: "Bermuda continues to be a very popular venue for marriages. In fact, the Registrar General is currently abroad assisting in the inaugural marriages aboard the Princess line.

"Truly, it seems to be better in Bermuda and the Bermuda name has a cachet and is a real prize which we will continue to jealously guard.'' GOVERNMENT GVT