Moderated natural decrease
In the first five months of 2020 the number of births was 4.8% more and that of deaths 5.8% less than in the corresponding period of 2019 according to preliminary data. As a result, the natural decrease declined by 22% or 5,042 compared to January–May 2019. In May 2020 the number of live births increased by 1.9% and that of deaths went down by 3.9% compared to the same month of the previous year. The natural decrease of 2,331 in May was 18% lower than a year earlier.
In May 2020:1
7,239 children were born, which was 137 or 1.9% more than in May 2019.
9,570 people lost their lives, which was 389 fewer or 3.9% less than a year earlier.
Due to the decline in the number of deaths and the rise in the number of births, the natural decrease over the month was 2,331 as opposed to 2,857 in May 2019, which was a decrease of 18%.
The number of marriages went down; 4,695 couples got married, 30% less or 1,967 fewer than in May 2019.
In January–May 2020:
36,527 children were born, which was 1,664 or 4.8% more than the number of births in January–May 2019. Within this, the number of live births was 8.8% more in January–February and 2.1% more in March–May compared to the corresponding months of 2019.
The total fertility rate was estimated at 1.48 per female, compared with 1.40 for the first five months of 2019.
There were 54,656 deaths, 5.8% less or 3,378 fewer than one year earlier. The decrease may have been due to the flu epidemic peaking at a lower level this year compared to last year. 15% less people died in January and 9.9% less in February, 1.7% more in March–April and 3.9% less in May compared to a year earlier.
As a result of the decline in the number of deaths and the rise in the number of births, the natural decrease was 18,129 as opposed to 23,171 in January–May 2019, which was a decline of 22%.
20,885 couples got married, which was 28% or 4,522 more marriages. 101% more marriages were registered in January–March and 8.8% more in April, while 30% less in May than in the corresponding months of 2019. The lower growth in April and the decrease in May may have been owing to restrictive measures on group events, introduced because of the Covid-19 epidemic.
There were 9.0 live births and 13.5 deaths per thousand population. The former was 0.4 per mille point higher and the latter 0.9 per mille point lower compared to the period of January–May 2019. As a result of all this, the 4.5 per mille rate of natural decrease was 1.3 per mille points lower than one year earlier. The number of infant deaths was 3.9 per thousand live births in January–May 2020, which was a growth of 0.1 per mille point compared to January–May of the previous year. The marriage rate was 5.1 per mille, 1.1 per mille points more compared to the same period of 2019.
Main data on vital events, January–May 2020
| Vital events | Number | Change compared to same period of previous year, % | Per thousand population | Change compared to same period of previous year, % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live births | 36 527 | 4.8 | 9.0 | 4.4 |
| Deaths | 54 656 | –5.8 | 13.5 | –6.2 |
| Infant deaths | 144 | 8.3 | 3.9a) | 3.3 |
| Natural increase/decrease | –18 129 | –21.8 | –4.5 | –22.1 |
| Marriages | 20 885 | 27.6 | 5.1 | 27.2 |
a) Per thousand live births.