Shanghai's 10-year negative resident population growth rate since 1994 is on the up with the growth rate standing at zero per mill (per thousand) in 2004, the commission dealing with population and family planning said on Tuesday.

The natural resident population growth rate in Shanghai stood at negative 1.2 per mill in 1994, which rose to zero per mill in 2004, or an increase of 1.4 points over the 2003 figure.

In 2004, the newly born resident population in Shanghai stood at 102,900, representing an increase of 23.4 percent over the 2003 figure. And the number of deaths in the same year was 103,500, showing a decrease of 2.5 percent.

Changes in general age structure and an increase in the number of births have resulted in moderate resident population growth in the municipality, the commission said.

The commission estimates that Shanghai will see a clear upward trend in resident population growth in 2006, due to the impact of the birth peak of the 1980s generation.

By 2009, the newborn population in Shanghai will stand at around 160,000.

By the end of 2004, the resident population in Shanghai is expected to hit 17.42 million, with population density reaching 2,748 people per sq. km.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2005)