Crime syndicates saw their membership increase at the end of 2003, marking an eighth consecutive annual rise, the National Police Agency said Wednesday.

The 85,800 total number of gang members represented an increase of 500 from 2002, but 41,400 did not specify their affiliations as a way to get around related legislation implemented in 1991.

The law mainly targets three major underworld groups -- the Yamaguchi-gumi, Sumiyoshi-kai and Inagawa-kai.

A record 70.2 percent of the total belonged to the three groups in 2003, compared with 24.8 percent in 1985.

The eight-year rise was attributed to the growing number of unaffiliated yakuza members.