Published on: 22 October 2020

More births and fewer deaths, moderated natural decrease

In January–September 2020, the number of births was 4.9% more and that of deaths 3.3% less than in the corresponding period of 2019 according to preliminary data. As a result, the natural decrease declined by 21% or 6,499 compared to a year earlier. In September 2020, the number of live births increased by 5.9% and that of deaths by 3.9% on the same month of 2019. The natural decrease of 1,691 in September was 5.2% lower than one year earlier.

In September 2020:1

8,442 children were born, 5.9% or 470 more than in September 2019.

10,133 people lost their lives, 3.9% or 378 more than a year earlier.

The number of births rose to a higher extent than the number of deaths, and due to this the natural decrease over the month was 1,691, which was a decline of 5.2% on 1,783 in September 2019.

The number of marriages went up; 8,948 couples got married, 2.9% or 256 more than in September 2019.

In January–September 2020:

69,543 children were born, 4.9% or 3,251 more than the number of births in January–September 2019. Within this, the number of live births was 8.8% more in January–February, 2.3% more in March–May, 9.1% more in June and 3.7% more in July–September compared to the corresponding periods of 2019.

The total fertility rate was estimated at 1.56 per female, compared with 1.48 for January–September 2019.

There were 94,494 deaths, 3.3% less or 3,248 fewer than one year earlier. 13% less people died in January–February, 0.7% less in May and 2.0% less in June–August, while 1.8% more in March–April and 3.9% more in September than 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 24,951, which was 21% less compared to 31,450 in January–September 2019.

53,774 couples got married, which was 3.1% or 1,613 more marriages. 101% more marriages were registered in January–March and 8.9% more in April, 15% less in May–August and 2.9% more again in September than in the corresponding periods of 2019.

There were 9.5 live births and 12.9 deaths per thousand population. The former was 0.4 per mille point higher and the latter 0.5 per mille point lower compared to the period of January–September 2019. As a result of all this, the 3.4 per mille rate of the natural decrease was 0.9 per mille point lower than one year earlier. The number of infant deaths was 3.4 per thousand live births in January–September 2020, which was 0.4 per mille point less than in January–September of the previous year. The marriage rate was 7.4 per mille, 0.2 per mille point more compared to the same period of 2019.

Main data on vital events, January–September 2020

Vital events Number Change compared to same period of previous year, % Per thousand population Change compared to same period of previous year, %
Live births69 5434.99.54.8
Deaths94 494–3.312.9–3.4
Infant deaths234–5.63.4a)–10.1
Natural increase/decrease–24 951–20.7–3.4–20.7
Marriages53 7743.17.43.0

a) Per thousand live births.

The number of births went up in all regions compared to the same period of the previous year, except for the 1.2% decrease registered for Budapest. The highest growths were in Northern Great Plain and Southern Transdanubia (9.9% and 9.2%, respectively) and the lowest one in Central Transdanubia (3.5%).

The number of deaths decreased in all regions except in Budapest, where 0.7% more people died. The highest decline of 6.4% occurred in Northern Hungary and the lowest decreases in Western and Central Transdanubia (1.0% and 1.6%, respectively).

The natural decrease grew in Budapest – owing to a decline in the number of births and a rise in the number of deaths there –, by 5.3%, and lessened in the rest of the regions. The largest decreases were measured for Pest Region and Northern Great Plain (53% and 49%, respectively), and the lowest ones for Central and Western Transdanubia (11% each).

The number of marriages went down in Budapest, by 13%, and rose in the remaining regions. The highest growths occurred in Southern and Northern Great Plain (14% and 11%, respectively), and the lowest one in Western Transdanubia (2.9%).

Main data on vital events by region, January–June 2020

Region Live births Deaths Natural increase/decrease Marriages
number change, %a) number change, %a) number change, %a) number change, %a)
Budapest10 924–1.215 8610.7–4 9375.37 977–12.6
Pest9 8045.710 642–3.9–838–53.37 0385.3
Central Transdanubia7 2203.510 632–1.6–3 412–10.86 4769.7
Western Transdanubia6 2924.89 269–1.0–2 977–11.35 1742.9
Southern Transdanubia5 8409.29 308–4.2–3 468–20.74 7144.2
Northern Hungary9 0177.712 014–6.4–2 997–32.76 3745.4
Northern Great Plain11 9909.913 806–4.7–1 816–49.28 76910.7
Southern Great Plain8 4567.412 962–3.3–4 506–18.67 25213.6
Totalb)69 5434.994 494–3.3–24 951–20.753 7743.1

a) Compared to the same period of the previous year.
b) Including data which cannot be broken down by territorial unit.