On December 17, 2019, Hoành Bồ District was annexed by Hạ Long city. According to the General Statistics Office of the Government of Vietnam, the population of Quảng Ninh province as of 2008 was 1,109,600 with a density of 182 persons per km2 over a total land area of of the province. The male population during this period was 559,500 with females accounting for 555,700. The rural population was 614,600 against an urban population of 495,000. However, according to the 2009 data, the population of the province is reported to be 1,144,381 people, including women who were 558,793; the proportion of urban population in the province has been ranked third nationally (behind Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang), urban population was 575,939 people (proportion 50.3 per cent) and rural population was 568,442 people. The rate of population growth rate is also higher, the average from 1999 to 2009 was 1.3 per cent as against the national average of 1.2 per cent. Ethnic identity in the province is recorded as 22 ethnic groups. The ethnic groups identified are the Vietnamese (Kinh), Dao, Tay, San Diu, San Chi. The binational population groups comprise the Nung and Muong, Thai, Kh'me, Hre, Hmong, Ede, Co Tu, Gia Rai, Ngai, Xu Dang, Co Ho, Ha Nhi, Lao, her Pup. In this land of ancient culture the dominant religious beliefs are of Buddhists, Christians and ancestor worship in addition to other folk beliefs. Quảng Ninh, because of its varied terrain, climate and soil, features a diversified and abundant environmental system. The province has a thus a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. Identified floral species number 1,027 of 6 phyla, while faunal species are 120. There are the regular domestic animals: cattle, pigs, poultry, cats, dogs, and rabbits. Cattle breeding has developed well in the mountainous regions, while the Móng Cái pig is now famous for its especially lean meat. In eastern districts, swans hybridized with ducks, called "cà sáy" by locals, are also becoming popular. Numerous foreign cattle are imported as well: buffaloes from India, milk cows from the Netherlands and India and horses, sheep and goats from Mongolia.