Demographic situation in Latvia becomes dangerous

The birth rate in Latvia has decreased by 8.2% for nine months of this year alone, compared to the same period last year. During this time 12,221 children were born in the country. The lowest birth rate in the last 100 years has been registered since February this year.

At the same time the mortality rate remains high and exceeds the birth rate by a factor of two: 22,498 people died during the first nine months of this year.

In terms of the number of inhabitants, the republic is now at the level of 1950. According to demographers, there are de facto fewer people living in Latvia than the officially declared 1 million 876 thousand inhabitants.

Moreover, there are no preconditions for improvement of the situation. Since 2016, the number of newborns is only decreasing, while the "reproduction rate" is not growing either - it fluctuates on average at 1.55-1.57 children per woman.

For the situation to improve each family must have at least two children.