For the first time in three years, Bermuda recorded a slight decrease in the number of births in 2018.According to the Annual Report of the Registry General, there 530 births recorded last year, representing a decrease of 46 or 7.9 percent over the 576 births recorded in 2017.
“Also, the live birth rate of the population has decreased by 0.7 point per thousand from 9.0 in 2017 to 8.3 in 2018. There were three babies born in 2018 in the residence of the parents. This is the same number of babies born at home 2017.
“The distribution of live births by nationality based on information provided by the parents at the time of registration of their children’s birth, for 2018 reflects 83.8 percent or 444 of the total live births have at least one Bermudian parent,” he added.
“In 2018, 86 or 16.2 percent of the births have parents who are both non-Bermudian.”
The report also pointed up “a decrease of 2 or 0.003 percent in the estimated resident population at the end of 2018 at 63,919 as opposed to the 63,921 in resident population estimated in 2017.”
“At the end of 2018 there were 2,435 more females than males in the population figures.”
When compared to the statistics recorded in 2016 and statistics for 2018, Mr Roban said: “It would appear that there has been a significant drop in the population.
“However, the population estimates were re-based in 2016 after the 2016 Population and Housing Census. The re-base of the data is the reason why the population estimates are lower from 2016 forward.”
A total of 473 marriages were performed in Bermuda for the year ending 31st December 2018, representing “a 7.5 percent increase from the 440 marriages recorded in 2017”.Marriages between parties who were “both non-residents accounted for 265 or 56 percent of the total of 473”.
“This figure still is in keeping with the trend over the past five years where marriages between non-residents exceed the number of marriages between residents and marriages between a resident party and a non-resident party,” said Mr Roban.
“The Report also shows that there were 167 marriages between parties who were both residents and 41 marriages between a resident and non-resident.”
Six same-sex marriages were performed in Bermuda last year, representing a decrease of four (4) or 40 percent from the ten same-sex marriages in 2017.
“All six of the same-sex marriages were performed at the Registry General as civil ceremonies, and none of the marriages were religious ceremonies held at a hotel and a home,” the report said.
“During 2018 same-sex marriages between parties who were both residents accounted for three (3) or 50 percent of the total of six marriages. The report also shows that there was one same-sex marriage between non-residents, and two same-sex marriages between a resident and non-resident.”
Some 472 marriages were “performed on board twenty eight Bermuda registered ships in 2018″.
“This total represents an increase of 20 or 4.2 percent from the 2017 total of 452. Of the 472 maritime marriages, four or 0.8 percent were same-sex marriage ceremonies.
“The cumulative number of marriages (local and maritime) processed through the Registry General for the year ended December 31st, 2018 was 945 as compared to 872 for the year ending 2017.“The Domestic Partnership Act 2018 allowed for the formalization of unions between parties. In 2018 there were two domestic partnership unions recorded for that period. Both domestic partnership ceremonies were performed at the Registry General Office and none of the ceremonies were formalized at an alternative approved location as allowed for under the Domestic Partnership Act 2018.
MPs were also advised that 532 deaths were recorded among residents in 2018.
“A death rate of 8.3 per thousand of the population for 2018 reflects a decrease of 51 or 10.6 percent from 481 recorded in 2017.
“The Report also indicates that 11 were in respect of non-resident persons. There was one stillbirth recorded for the 2018 period.”
The Minister also pointed out “an error on page 1″.
“Under General Information, where stillbirths were recorded as five for 2018,” he said. “However the correct figure of one is listed on page 23 in table 5.4.”
“In closing, the Annual Report seeks to provide an illustrative statistical digest of vital events such as live births, deaths, stillbirths, marriages, domestic partnerships, adoptions and re-registration of births for the year ended December 31st, 2018,” said Mr Roban.
“I would like to thank the Registrar General and his team for their hard work in producing this document.”
- Feature File Photo – Seven Babies Born Within 24 hours at KEMH Earlier This Year:
- 1. Gina Liburd and Wayne Wales, daughter Glow Gentle Wales, 11:04am 29 January 2019
- 2. Ouafae Hajjioui and Kevin Daley, son Ryan, 11:54am 29 January 2019
- 3. Lichel Tumulak and Mario Ferraro, son, 1:55pm 29 January 2019
- 4. Kristen and Daniel Heinlein, son Hayes Heinlein, 5:28pm 29 January 2019
- 5. Brittany Bean and Leon Weekes, daughter Maci Barstowe-Weekes, 6:39pm 29 January 2019
- 6. Yuedi Ding and Alvin Du, son Jackson Du, 11:41pm 29 January 2019
- 7. Vanessa and Michael Thompson, son [not yet named], 5:41am 30 January 2019
