The population of Macao was estimated at 503,000 at the end of the first half of the year, up 26,000 over the same period of last year, according to official statistics issued Thursday.

The figures released by the government-run Statistics and Census Service showed that the region logged 931 cases of live birth in the second quarter, a slight decrease of 0.5 percent over the previous quarter.

The region recorded 376 mortality cases in the quarter, the figures displayed.

Meanwhile, 493 cases of marriage were registered, down 4.1 percent over the first quarter, but up 22.6 percent over the second quarter of 2005, according to the statistics.

Source: Xinhua