Moderated natural decrease in October and notably more marriages
In the first ten months of 2019 the number of births was 1.6% and that of deaths was 0.3% less compared to the corresponding period of 2018 according to preliminary data. As a result, the natural decrease grew by 2.7% or 897 people compared to January–October 2018. In October 2019 the number of live births declined by 2.5% and that of deaths by 4.4% compared to the same month of the previous year. As a result of a greater fall in deaths, the natural decrease of 2,655 people in October was 9.5% lower than a year earlier.
In October 2019:
7,780 children were born, 203 babies, 2.5% less, than in October 2018.
10,435 people lost their lives, which was 483 deceased, 4.4% less than in the corresponding month of the previous year.
The decline in the number of births was lower than that of deaths, and consequently the natural decrease over the month was 2,655 people as opposed to 2,935 in October 2018, which meant a decrease of 9.5%.
The number of marriages went up substantially; 5,609 couples got married, which was 65% or 2,201 couples more than in October 2018. The number of marriages concluded in October last exceeded that of today in 1988.
In January–October 2019:
74,064 children were born, which was 1,242 children or 1.6% lower than the number of births in the first ten months of 2018. The number of newborns was lower in January-March, June and October, and higher in April-May and July-September compared to the same period of the previous year. The most significant increase of 2.7% was registered in April and the largest decline of 5.8% in June.
The estimated total fertility rate was 1.48 per woman, compared with 1.49 for the first ten months of the previous year.
There were 108,123 deaths, 345 deceased less than in the same period of the previous year. The number of deaths increased in January, February and June, while in all other months of the year fewer people died than in the same month of the previous year. The largest increase of 20% was registered in the first month of the year. This may have been due to a flu epidemic that peaked earlier than last year. In the rest of the year fewer deaths were recorded. The most significant of these was the decline of 14% in March.
Owing to a greater decrease in the number of live births than deaths, the natural decrease was 34,059 people as opposed to 33,162 people in the first ten months of 2018, which meant a growth of 2.7%.
A total of 57,774 couples got married, which was significantly, 24% or 11,023 couples more compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. January was the only month of the year when fewer matrimonies were registered than a year earlier. Following this, the number of marriages increased slightly in February-March, on average by 8.5% in April-May, and significantly, by 16% in June, compared to the previous year. This upward trend continued and in July-September there was an impressive 33% increase on average and in October 65% more couples got married than in the same months of 2018. The number of marriages in January-October 2019 has been the highest since 1990.
There were 9.1 live births and 13.3 deaths per thousand population. The former was 0.1 per mille point lower and the latter did not change compared to the corresponding period of the previous year; as a result of these factors, the rate of natural decrease rose by 0.1 per mille point to 4.2 per mille. The number of infant deaths was 3.7 per thousand live births in the first ten months of 2019, showing an increase of 0.2 per mille point compared to the same period of the previous year. The marriage rate of 7.1 per mille was 1.4 per mille point higher than a year earlier.
Main data on vital events, January–October 2019
| Vital events | Number | Change compared to same period of previous year, % | Per thousand population | Change compared to same period of previous year, % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live births | 74 064 | –1.6 | 9.1 | –1.6 |
| Deaths | 108 123 | –0.3 | 13.3 | –0.3 |
| Infant deaths | 271 | 5.4 | 3.7a) | 7.2 |
| Natural increase/decrease | –34 059 | 2.7 | –4.2 | 2.8 |
| Marriages | 57 774 | 23.6 | 7.1 | 23.7 |
a) Per thousand live births.