Yukon parents welcomed 428 babies in 2012, a small increase from 2011.

From Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2012, there were 221 boys and 207 girls born in the Yukon. This does not include infants born to Yukoners in hospitals outside the territory.

"We are happy to have so many young families making Yukon their home,” Health and Social Services Minister Doug Graham said Monday.

"These parents and children add to healthy and vibrant communities as Yukon continues to grow.”

The Yukon birth rate reached a peak in 1990 with more than 500 babies.

It then dropped to a point where the Yukon was averaging approximately 365 births per year.

In 2008, the numbers started to rise again.

"In 2008, we had 361 births, 375 in 2009, and 371 in 2010,” said Sylvia Kitching, the government's deputy registrar of vital statistics.

"Then, in 2011, we had a significant increase with 420 infants born. And our numbers increased again in 2012, although not by as much.”

The Whitehorse Health Centre has noticed the effects of the increase with more in-home visits, well-baby clinics and immunizations.