Shanghai's permanent population is expected to hit 18.45 million by the end of the year, the Shanghai Population and Family Planning Commission said in a briefing to consulates in the city yesterday.

The figure is 300,000 more than last year and 670,000 more than 2005, according to the commission.

There was a "floating population" of 6.27 million people in the city last year, 4.67 million of whom stayed in Shanghai for more than six months. They accounted for 25.7 percent of permanent residents, who include people with registered residency and those living in the city for more than half the year.

"Local permanent residents delivered 134,200 babies last year, 10,300 more than 2005. Over 160,000 babies will be born to permanent residents in the city by the year's end," said Xie Lingli, the commission's director. "The city's natural growth rate for permanent residents will be 0.2 percent, up from last year's 0.158 percent and 2005's 0.096 percent."

There were 2.7562 million people over 60 years old in 2006 - 20.1 percent of the local residents. The average life expectancy was 80.97 years last year, 0.84 years more than in 2005.

"We have launched various services to improve the quality of life such as pre-school education for children, reproductive health education for young people, and care for the newborn and the floating population," Xie said. "So far, 12 subdistricts in eight districts have introduced community-based early education programs."

She said reproductive health advice had been given to migrant workers and 18,000 free condom distribution centers had been established for them.