Decline in births in May outpaces decline in deaths
The number of births fell by 7.9 percent in May compared with the same month in the previous year, while deaths dropped by 2.4 percent, according to preliminary data published by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Friday.
Meanwhile, the number of marriages decreased by 25 percent in the same period.
Fully 7,014 children were born in May, while there were 9,970 deaths. Altogether, 5,442 couples got married.
The natural population loss was 2,956 people compared with 2,607 in May 2022.
Fully 89,250 children were born between June 2022 and May 2023, 1.3 percent fewer than in the previous 12 months. Altogether 132,062 people died, 8.8 percent fewer than in the previous 12 months.
In the same period, 56,607 couples tied the knot, 20 percent fewer than in the previous 12 months.
There were 9.3 live births and 13.7 deaths per thousand inhabitants, the former level with the June 2021-2022 period, while the death rate was 1.2 percentage points lower.
