Decline in births in January outpaces decline in deaths
The number of births fell by 12 percent in January compared with the same month in the previous year, while deaths dropped by 1.1 percent, according to preliminary data published by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the number of marriages went up by 37 percent in the same period.
Fully 6,650 children were born in January, while there were 11,723 deaths.
The natural population loss was 5,073 people compared with 4,305 in January 2023.
Fully 84,298 children were born between January 2024 and February 2023, 5.7 percent fewer than in the same period of last year. Altogether 127,066 people died between January 2024 and February 2023, 5.9 percent fewer than in the same period of last year.
There were 8.2 live births and 14.4 deaths per thousand inhabitants, the former 1.1 lower than in January 2023, while the death rate was 0.1 of a percentage point lower.
