Fewer babies are being born in The Bahamas and more people are dying, according to a new report released by the Department of Statistics.  The Vital Statistics Provisional Report for The Bahamas shows that between 2007 and 2010, the birth rate fell from 17.5 to 13.8.  In 2007, 5,854 births were recorded.  Last year 4,790 births were recorded.

Way back in 2000, the birth rate was roughly the same as it was in 2007. There was no explanation provided on why fewer babies are being born in The Bahamas.
The report shows that the death rate was 5.2 in 2006 and it steadily grew each year after that, standing at 6.0 in 2010.

According to the report, 1,730 deaths were recorded in 2006 and 2,078 in 2010.
The report also does not give any reasons for the rise in the death rate.
One obvious factor is a rise in the murder rate, but that would not account fully for the significant increase.

The report explains that deaths include all mortalities except stillbirths. It does not give a year by year breakdown of infant deaths, but said 77 infant deaths were recorded last year.
The Department of Statistics said the interim report provides the government and other statistical users with advanced information on important basic vital statistics.
It allows for the early dissemination of data which would otherwise not be available until the more detailed annual report is completed.

The department noted that between 2000 and 2008 the data for marriages reflects only those of residents, whereas the 2009 and 2010 data includes marriages of both residents and non-residents (visitors).  The period 2005 to 2008 shows a gradual decline in the number of people being married.

According to the report, 2,508 marriages happened in the country in 2005.  In 2008, 1,969 marriages were recorded.  The report also shows that 683 divorce cases were filed in New Providence courts in 2006; 669 were filed in 2007; 688 were filed in 2008; 603 were filed in 2009 ad 399 were filed in 2010.  The report is available on the department's website: statistics.bahamas.gov.bs.

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