Analytics, Demography, Latvia, Society

The number of population due to the natural movement (the number of deaths exceeding births) decreased by 7.1 thousand, but due to the long-term migration - by 2.5 thousand.

In 2008 3465 persons arrived in Latvia, but 6007 persons left for permanent residence in other countries.

Most important comparative demographic development indicators in 2005, 2007 and 2008 are presented in the table below.

Births, deaths, marriages and divorces in Latvia in 2005 and in 2007-2008

In comparison with the year before the number of marriages in 2008 has reduced by 16.4%. The number of marriages per 1000 population comprised 5.7 (in 2007 number of marriages per 1000 population reached the highest indicator within the last 15 years – 6.8). Compared to 2007 the number of divorces last year has reduced by 16%.

Number of marriages and divorces per 1000 population in Latvia in 2000 – 2008

In 2008 average age of the marrying persons continued to increase – 34 years for men and 31 year for women. Men concluded their first marriage at the age of 29, but women at age of 27 years.

Average age of persons marrying in Latvia in 2000, 2005-2008

The number of births in 2008 comprised 23.9 thousand or 675 children more than in 2007. The birth rate per 1000 population increased almost by 4 %. The number of births per 1000 residents was the highest indicator within the last 15 years.

51.3% of the newborn were the first children in their families (52.1% in 2007). The proportion of second children amongst all newborn in 2008 was 33.3 %, compared to 32.8 % a year before.

In comparison to 2007 total fertility rate (average number of children that would be born to a female during her lifetime provided the birth-rate of the given year remaining at the previous level) in 2008 grew almost by 3 % and comprised 1.45. At the present it only slightly exceeds half of the replacement level (2.1-2.2) necessary for exchange of the generations.

Fertility rates and trends of their changes in Latvia in 2000, 2005-2008

Since 2000 the average age of newborn's mother has increased by 1 year, and in 2008 it comprised 28 years, but average age of mother at the moment when the first baby is born last year was 25.6 years or 1.2 years higher then in 2000.

Average age of women at the first marriage and average age of mother at the time when first baby is born in Latvia in 2000 – 2008

The number of deaths in 2008 comprised 31.0 thousand or 2036 persons less than in 2007. Crude death rate – 13.7 deaths per 1000 population has reduced by 5.5%.

161 infant died during their first year of life (6.7 deaths per 1000 live births). Compared to 2007 the number of infant deaths per 1000 live births has decreased almost by one fourth.

According to provisional results average life expectancy of the persons born in 2008 is 72.7 years, of which 67.2 years for men and 77.9 years for women, and compared to 2007 it has grown by 1.4 years for both men and women.

Life expectancy at birth in Latvia in 2000 – 2008

Calculations of life tables show that, e.g., average life expectancy of men aged 60 in 2008 is 16 years, but life expectancy of women who in 2008 are at the same age - 22 years.

At the beginning of the year the total population in Riga comprised 713 thousand, and over the year it reduced by 4.4 thousand. 8.1 thousand births and 9.6 thousand deaths of residents of Riga were recorded in the previous year. In comparison with 2007 birth rate per 1000 residents in Riga increased by 2.7 %, and mortality rate decreased by 4.9 %.

In 2008 increase of number of population was recorded only in the districts of Riga (5342 persons), Ogre (291) and Jelgava (132), as well as, in the city of Jūrmala (290).

The highest birth rates per 1000 residents were observed in the district of Riga – 13.1 births, in Jelgava – 11.9, in districts of Ogre and Bauska, as well as in cities of Liepāja and Riga – 11 births, but the lowest birth rates were recorded in districts of Krāslava and Ludza – 7 newborn per 1000 population.

Mortality rates were the highest in Ludza, Krāslava and Daugavpils districts (18 – 20 deaths per 1000 population). This situation can partly be explained with higher share of older age population in the mentioned districts. On the contrary, the lowest mortality rates were observed in the district of Riga (11 deaths per 1000 population) and in Jelgava (11.0). In 2008, just like in the previous year, the number of deaths exceeded that of births in almost all cities of Latvia, except Jelgava (there 58 persons more were born than died), and in almost all districts, except Riga district (370).

Data of the 1st quarter of 2009 show that death rate may continue to reduce also this year (300 deaths less then in first three months of previous year). Moreover, the number of births in the 1st quarter of this year constitutes approximately 500 births less than in the first three months of the last year. The number of marriages continues to decrease. In the first three months of 2009 it comprised 1.4 thousand, but in the 1st quarter of previous year – 1.8 thousand.