 Figures show a rise in the number of births |
Scotland's birth rate has continued to rise, according to official figures. Registrar General for Scotland, Duncan MacNiven, said latest figures showed the number of births was 0.4% higher than in the same three months in 2003.
Mr MacNiven also reported that there had been a 3.1% increase in the number of couples getting married.
There was a fall of 1.9% in the number of deaths compared with the same period in 2003, according to Mr MacNiven's key findings.
Detailing results from the Vital Events Quarterly Return, Mr MacNiven said an increase in births had been evident in eight out of the last nine quarters.
During the three months from July to September there were 13,816 births, 12,713 marriages and 13,056 deaths.
Commenting on the results, Mr MacNiven said: "These changes help to defer the date when Scotland's population is forecast to fall below five million."
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