The total fertility rate in Cyprus was at 1.37 children per woman in 2016, remaining below the replacement level of 2.10, since 1995, the Statistical Service of Cyprus reported on Monday.

In its “Demographic Report 2016”, published on Monday, Cystat said that in 2016 births totalled 9.455 compared to 9.170 in 2015.

According to the Statistical Service, the population in the Government controlled area is estimated at 854,8 thousand at the end of 2016 compared to 848,3 thousand in the previous year, recording an increase of 0.8%.

The number of deaths reached 5.471 in 2016 and the crude death rate 6.4 deaths per thousand population.

The expectation of life at birth is estimated at 80.3 years for males and 84.7 for females.

Marriages increased last year to 13.558 from 13.006 in 2015. The marriages of residents of Cyprus totalled 6.375 in 2016, of which 3.926 were ecclesiastical and 2.449 civil, against 6.092 in 2015.

Divorces also increased in 2016, reaching 1.948 from 1.807 in 2015.

Net migration in Cyprus has been positive from 1983 to 2011, while between 2012 and 2015 net migration was negative. In 2016 net migration turned positive and reached 2.499.