Hatch, match and dispatch

The figures paint a detailed social picture

More deaths than births were recorded in Scotland in 1999, making it the largest decrease in population since official figures began.

But marriage is on the increase and the number of divorces fell, according to the annual report by the General Register Office for Scotland.

There were 5,000 more deaths than births last year. Of the 55,147 live births - the lowest recorded - more than half were to mothers over the age of 30.

The most common cause of death was cancer followed by heart disease.

1999 figures

Births: 55,147

Deaths: 60,281

Marriages: 29,940 - 272 more than 1998

Divorces: 11,864 - the lowest since 1989

41% of children born out of wedlock

Most popular boy's name: Jack

Most popular girl's name: Chloe

The number of deaths recorded last year was up by 1,000 at 60,281.

Over the last 10 years people dying from heart-related problems fell by more than a quarter but the number of cancer deaths has remained relatively unchanged.

In 1999 the life expectancy for men was 73 and 78 for women.

The report also reveals that marriage increased by 272 to 29,940, although 41% of children were born out of wedlock.

Social factors

The average age at first marriage continued to rise and was 30 for men and 28 for women

Registrar general John Randall said: "We know that that families are delaying having children.

"A large proportion of births are being born to women over 30 so there are a number of social factors like that, that are going on."

Louise Findlay: "I had done everything I wanted to"

Louise Findlay, who lives in Edinburgh, was 32 when she had her first child and is expecting her third in September.

"Everything fitted into place at that point," she said. "I had kind of done everything I wanted to and I was quite happy to settle down.

"Lots of my friends were having children at that time and I thought 'this is it'."

The report showed there were 11,864 divorces, the lowest since 1989.

Name game

The most popular name for boys was Jack. It replaced Ryan, which was top for five years but was beaten into third place by Lewis.

Chloe remained the favourite girl's name in Scotland, followed by Rebecca and Lauren. The name Morgan was popular as both a girl's and a boy's name.

Official records for births, deaths and marriages began in 1855 when Scotland had a population of about three million.

The current population stands at 5.1 million.

In the mid-1850s the number of births stood at about 100,000 per annum.