The number of births in Bermuda rose last year for the second time in five years.

But the number of marriages fell to 450 from 509 in 2015 — an 11.6 per cent drop.

Walton Brown, Minister of Home Affairs, said: “In 2016, there were 591 births — an increase of eight or 1.4 per cent over the 583 births recorded in 2015.”

Mr Brown was speaking as he tabled the Annual Report of the Registry General for 2016 in the House of Assembly.

The report said 80 per cent or 473 of the births had at least one Bermudian parent.

The statistics also showed that 492 resident deaths were recorded, up from 478 in 2015.

A total of 11 non-residents died in Bermuda last year.

The estimated population increased by 99 people to 65,391, with 2,751 more women than men.

Marriages between people who were both non-Bermuda residents accounted for 231 — 51.3 per cent — of the 450 marriages performed.

Mr Brown said: “This figure still is in keeping with the trend over the past five years for marriages between non-residents to exceed the number of marriages between residents and marriages between a resident party and a non-resident party.”

Four hundred and sixty-eight marriages were performed aboard 28 Bermuda-registered ships last year — a decrease of 97 or 17.2 per cent on the 565 performed in 2015.

• To read Mr Brown’s statement in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”