The ratio represents a 10-year high in the island’s marriage rate, well above the 7.87 out of every 1,000 people registered in 1999, and the 6.69 per 1,000 residents who got married in 1998, the media said.

However, the high marriage rate did not result in a particularly high birth rate. Last year’s birth rate, 13.76 out of every 1,000, was higher than 1999’s 12.89 and 1998’s 12.43, but was far lower than 1996’s 15.07 and the 17.24 of 1988.

Last year, the average Taiwan family had 3.33 people, down from 1991’s 3.94, an indication that small families with few children are the prevailing trend across the island.

Statistics also showed that the number of households in Taiwan has increased some 28 percent over the past 10 years.

(Xinhua 02/16/2001)