IT is an annual publication of the nation's hatches, matches, and dispatches, which all too often makes for grim reading.

But the provisional figures issued yesterday by the Registrar General for Scotland give reason to be cheerful. The year heralded a positive demographic shift which paints a picture of a country on the up.

Key to the report is the finding that, for the first time since 1994, more births than deaths were registered.

Coupled with continuing numbers of immigrants from Eastern Europe settling in Scotland, the report contradicts - or at least delays - predictions of a slump in the national population, which as of 2005, was estimated at 5,094,800.

The number of deaths also fell year-on-year, and significantly, the quantity of mortalities caused by coronary heart disease and strokes both fell, which according to the Scottish Executive, is a signal of the beginning of a sea change in preventive health measures and lifestyle choices.

BIRTHS
Marking the highest number of births for nine years, some 55,690 babies began life in Scotland last year, a rise of 1304 births on 2005.

Significantly, 2006 was the first time in 13 years that the birth rate outweighed the death rate, countering the widely held belief that Scotland's indigenous population is in decline.

Of the 55,690 births, 28,473 were boys, while 27,217 were girls. Furthermore, the rising trend of the proportion of births to unmarried parents continued. Nearly half of all Scotland's newborns (47.7%) were born last year into such households.

Glasgow was the council area with the highest number of births, 6617 in 2006. Nationwide, there were 857 twins and 10 triplets born.

DEATHS
At 55,089, the number of deaths in 2006 fell by 1.2% compared with the 2005 figure.

Cancer, which accounted for 27% of deaths, coronary heart disease (17%), and strokes (10%) remained the three biggest causes of death.

Nevertheless, compared year-on-year, the number of people who died from coronary heart disease declined by 8%, while deaths from strokes dropped by 5%, a trend that Health Minister Andy Kerr attributed to "improvements in services, quicker treatment, and people making lifestyle changes to reduce their risk".

Highlighting the £40m invested by the Scottish Executive to counter such diseases, Mr Kerr added: "It looks like this is beginning to pay off.

"We are firmly on track to meet our targets to halve premature stroke deaths, cut premature heart deaths by nearly two-thirds, and reduce heart deaths in the most deprived areas by a further 15%."

INFANT MORTALITIES
An encouraging statistic in the report shows that the number of deaths of children under a year old was the lowest ever recorded, at 248.

Lewis Macdonald, Deputy Health Minister, stressed that work was ongoing to cut infant deaths in areas of deprivation, traditionally pockets of higher death rates among young children.

He said: "It's great news, and shows we are moving in the right direction in work to tackle health inequalities and improve child health. We are committed to giving every child the best start in life and to reduce childhood mortality and illness."

DIVORCES
The most contentious statistic remains the increase in the break-up of marriages, with an apparent rise in the number of people seeking the services of the 812 firms or individual solicitors in Scotland who practise family law.

The figure of 13,013 divorces last year is fewer than the 1994 figure of 13,133, but it has nevertheless prompted criticism of the Scottish Executive from organisations which are keen to preserve the traditional family as the heart of society.

Mike Judge, spokesman for the Christian Institute, said: "It's sad to see the number of divorces increasing in Scotland. Clearly, this sharp rise is in part down to people already in the legal pipeline of divorce waiting less time, but I would nonetheless expect to see another rise in the divorce rate next year.

"Making divorce quicker and easier encourages people to go through with it, a decision many regret.

"Instead of talking through their marital difficulties, divorce is an easy option, and one which leads to damaged children and adults."

Helen Hughes, chair of the Family Law Association, urged: "I think the figure is, to an extent, inflated. People who are separated have realised it is easier for them to divorce quicker over the past year.

"But most solicitors have seen an increase in divorce cases in the past decade. There's less of a stigma within society about divorce. People are no longer prepared to stay in a relationship which isn't working."

A spokeswoman for the executive said: "Nothing in the family law reforms undermines the place of marriage in our society - and neither has divorce become an easy process. But we do now have laws that will minimise conflict and the impact on children when these family relationships break down."

MARRIAGES
Coupled with the increase in the number of divorces, the number of marriages dropped last year to the fifth-lowest level since Victorian times.

Some 29,896 couples tied the knot in 2006, a 3% decrease on the previous 12 months.

However, that figure is not as low as a decade ago, when there were 29,691 marriages.

Hilary Campbell, chief executive of Relate Scotland, warned against reading too much into the statistics.

"Scots continue to believe in marriage," she said. "Even after a previous relationship has failed, they are likely to remarry. Marriage continues to be a fairly stable institution. The case remains that should couples be experiencing difficulties, the earlier they seek help the better."

CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS
More than 1000 same-sex couples joined in a civil partnership in 2006, the first full year since the new legislation came into force.

Some 580 male and 467 female couples registered, bringing the total number of civil partnerships in Scotland to 1131, comprising 633 unions between men, and 498 between women.

Lothian proved the geographic council region with the highest number of civil partnerships, with 194 male and 162 female couples registering last year.

Calum Irving, director of the gay campaign group Stonewall Scotland, said: "It's fantastic news. The figures show a significant number of registered civil partnerships and highlight the pent-up demand that existed. The number is far greater, I think, than the government expected.

"The civil partnership process has helped to make it clear to people that lesbian and gay couples have a strong desire to recognise their relationship in law as much as straight couples."

A natural step

JOHN Wilkes, director of the Equal Opportunities Commission in Scotland, registered with his partner Ian Corcoran, a graphic designer, in a civil partnership in Glasgow last autumn.

They are one of 1047 couples to register in the first full year since the Civil Partnership Act 2004 took effect.

Mr Wilkes, left, said yesterday: "A number of issues encouraged us to have a civil partnership - legal matters, access to pensions, and the like."

"Really, it was a natural step as part of our relationship, and it allowed our friends and family to celebrate the validation of that. It's nice to have done it, and from speaking to friends, I suspect there's something of a backlog of people still waiting to register. I know lots of people planning to do so.

"It's an important piece of legislation, and it normalises gay and lesbian relationships in a legal framework."