The resident population of Macao was estimated at 482,000 at the end of the third quarter, rising by 17,000 compared with the end of 2004, according to official statistics issued on Monday.

The figures from the government-run Statistics and Census Service indicated that the number of live births stood at 994 in the quarter, a 26.5-percent rise over the second quarter.

Meanwhile, 369 cases of death were reported in the quarter and the major cause of death included "Malignant neoplasm" and "Diseases of the circulatory system," according to the figures.

There were 677 legal immigrants from the mainland in the third quarter, a year-on-year decrease of 72 percent, the figures showed.

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2005)