Information of the Statistics and Census Service indicated that resident population of Macao was estimated at 543,000 as at 31 March 2008, an increase of about 23,000 compared with the same period of 2007.

In the first quarter of 2008, there were 1,076 live births, down by 20.4% over the fourth quarter of 2007, with male babies accounting for 52.0%. The number of mortality cases was 513 and the major underlying causes of death were “Diseases of the circulatory system” and “Malignant neoplasms”. Meanwhile, 2 cases of fetal mortality were recorded.

The Health Bureau received 570 cases of Notifiable diseases in this quarter, a decrease of 57 cases over the preceding quarter, including 274 cases of “Varicella (chickenpox)”, 96 cases of “Tuberculosis of lung” and 73 cases of “Rotaviral enteritis”; besides, 26 cases of “Hand, foot and mouth diseases” were recorded.

In addition, 684 cases of marriage were registered, up notably by 35.2% over the fourth quarter of 2007.

The number of legal immigrants from Mainland China totalled 515 in the first quarter of 2008, a decrease of 81 over the preceding quarter; meanwhile, 355 illegal immigrants were repatriated. The end-quarter balance of individuals authorized to reside in Macao went up by 1,337 over the fourth quarter of 2007 to 43,292.

The end-quarter balance of non-resident workers totalled 90,013, an increase of 4,806 over the fourth quarter of 2007.