Summary
The population of was estimated at 10,529,255 at 31 December 2004. The birth rate decelerated by 2.9% and the death rate by 6.2% from 2003. The infant mortality rate reached 3.8¿, the lowest figure observed in Portugal. Compared with 2003 the number of marriages declined, while the percentage of marriages with previous cohabitation. The number of divorces increased. Foreign population grew by 6% from the previous year.