Mr. Speaker, there was a decrease of 2 or 0.003% 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.

Mr. Speaker, if you compare statistics recorded in 2016, and statistics provided for 2018, 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.

Mr. Speaker, for the year ending 31st December 2018 there were 473 marriages performed in Bermuda, a 7.5% increase from the 440 marriages recorded in 2017. During 2018 marriages between parties who were both non-residents accounted for 265 or 56% 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. The Report also shows that there were 167 marriages between parties who were both residents and 41 marriages between a resident and non-resident.

Mr. Speaker, of the total 473 marriages recorded in 2018, six were same-sex marriages which represents a decrease of 4 or 40% from the total of 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. During 2018 same-sex marriages between parties who were both residents accounted for 3 or 50% 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.

Mr. Speaker, 472 marriages were performed on board twenty eight Bermuda registered ships in 2018. This total represents an increase of 20 or 4.2% from the 2017 total of 452.  Of the 472 maritime marriages, four or 0.8% were same-sex marriage ceremonies. The cumulative number of marriages (local and maritime) processed through the Registry General for the year ended 31st December, 2018 was 945 as compared to 872 for the year ending 2017.

Mr. Speaker, 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.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, 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. I would like to thank the Registrar General and his team for their hard work in producing this document.