Moderated natural decrease in September and notably more marriages
In the first three quarters of 2019 the number of births was 1.6% less and that of deaths was almost the same compared to the corresponding period of 2018 according to preliminary data. As a result, the natural decrease grew by 3.5% or 1,052 people compared to January–September 2018. In September 2019 the number of live births practically did not change and that of deaths declined by 4.2% compared to the same month of the previous year; consequently, the natural decrease of 1,672 people in September was 20% lower than a year earlier.
In September 2019:
7,947 children were born, which is almost the same as the year before, with only 3 new-born babies less than in September 2018.
9,619 people lost their lives, which was 4.2% or 417 people less than in the corresponding month of the previous year.
The number of births did not change and that of deaths declined, as a result of which the natural decrease over the month was 1,672 people as opposed to 2,086 in September 2018, which meant a decrease of 20%.
The number of marriages went up substantially; 8,625 couples got married, which was 29% or 1,957 couples more than in September 2018.
In January–September 2019:
A total of 66,257 children were born, which was 1,066 children or 1.6% lower than the number of births in the first nine months of 2018. The number of newborns was 4.2% less in January–March and 1.5% more in April-May on average, compared to the corresponding months of the previous year. Subsequently, the number of births was 5.8% lower in June, slightly higher in July and in August-September was nearly the same in comparison to a year earlier.
The estimated total fertility rate was 1.48 per woman, compared with 1.49 for the first nine months of the previous year.
There were 97,536 deaths, 14 deceased less, than in the same period of the previous year. The number of death increased in January-February and June. 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 decrease in the number of live births and the stagnation in the number of deaths, the natural decrease was 31,279 people as opposed to 30,227 people in the first nine months of 2018, which meant a growth of 3.5%.
52,079 couples got married, which was significantly, 20% or 8,736 couples more compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. Out-of-season 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 largely 33% more couples on average joined in matrimony in the peak of the season July-September, than in the same months of 2018. The number of marriages in January-September 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; therefore, the rate of natural decrease rose by 0.1 per mille point to 4.3 per mille. The number of infant deaths was 3.7 per thousand live births in the first nine 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 1.2 per mille point higher than a year earlier.
Main data on vital events, January– September 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 | 66 257 | –1.6 | 9.1 | –1.5 |
| Deaths | 97 536 | 0.0 | 13.3 | 0.0 |
| Infant deaths | 242 | 5.2 | 3.7a) | 6.9 |
| Natural increase/decrease | –31 279 | 3.5 | –4.3 | 3.5 |
| Marriages | 52 079 | 20.2 | 7.1 | 20.2 |
a) Per thousand live births.
The number of births went up in Pest Region and Central Transdanubia (1.8% and 1.5%, respectively), while it decreased in the other regions. The most significant falls were registered in Western Transdanubia and Northern Hungary (-4.2% and -3.6%, respectively), the lowest ones in Northern Great Plain and Southern Great Plain (-0.5% and -2.3%, respectively).
The number of deaths diminished in three regions, namely Western Transdanubia, Budapest and Pest Region (-2.1%, -1.5% and -0.1%, respectively), while it rose in the other five. The largest increase was measured in Southern Transdanubia (1.8%) and the lowest one in Southern Great Plain (0.1%).
The rate of natural decrease declined – mainly due to the increase in the number of births – in Pest Region and Central Transdanubia (-9.2% and -1.6%), while in others it rose. An above-national-average decline in the number of live births and the increase in the number of deaths were the key factors in Northern Hungary, which resulted in a 13% growth.
The number of marriages rose in all regions, most significantly in Pest Region and Central Transdanubia (26% and 23%, respectively), but it was higher than a year earlier in the rest of the regions as well.
Main data on vital events by region, January–September 2019
| Region | Live births | Deaths | Natural increase/decrease | Marriages | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| number | change, %a) | number | change, %a) | number | change, %a) | number | change, %a) | |
| Budapest | 11 046 | –2.8 | 15 657 | –1.5 | –4 611 | 1.9 | 9 115 | 17.6 |
| Pest | 9 272 | 1.8 | 11 041 | –0.1 | –1 769 | –9.2 | 6 675 | 26.4 |
| Central Transdanubia | 6 976 | 1.5 | 10 793 | 0.4 | –3 817 | –1.6 | 5 888 | 22.8 |
| Western Transdanubia | 5 997 | –4.2 | 9 355 | –2.1 | –3 358 | 1.7 | 5 011 | 20.5 |
| Southern Transdanubia | 5 349 | –2.8 | 9 717 | 1.8 | –4 368 | 8.0 | 4 508 | 19.1 |
| Northern Hungary | 8 373 | –3.6 | 12 801 | 1.5 | –4 428 | 13.0 | 6 043 | 16.8 |
| Northern Great Plain | 10 908 | –0.5 | 14 479 | 0.9 | –3 571 | 5.6 | 7 913 | 21.3 |
| Southern Great Plain | 7 868 | –2.3 | 13 394 | 0.1 | –5 526 | 3.9 | 6 384 | 19.6 |
| Totalb) | 66 257 | –1.6 | 97 536 | 0.0 | –31 279 | 3.5 | 52 079 | 20.2 |
a) Compared to the same period of the previous year.
b) Including data which cannot be broken down by territorial unit.