Number of births and fertility rates

The number of live births refers to the live births registered in Latvia during the reference year. It includes children born to the parents at least one of whom is usual resident of Latvia as well as children born to mothers who are usual residents of Latvia while temporarily abroad.

Provisional monthly number of live births refers to the number of children born during the reference month. The monthly figure is published 30 days after the reference month.

Provisional short-term data are revised in May of the next year by excluding the children born to the parents who are not citizens of Latvia and none of whom has usual residence in Latvia and by including the children who were usual residents of Latvia on 1 January of the respective year and were born to mothers, usual residents of Latvia in the respective year, while temporarily abroad.

Crude birth rate is the ratio of the number of births during the year to the average population in that year. The value is expressed per 1 000 inhabitants.

The total fertility rate is defined as the mean number of children who would be born to a woman during her lifetime, if she were to spend her childbearing years conforming to the age-specific fertility rates, that have been measured in a given year. Generation replacement is ensured when the rate is around 2.1, meaning that, on average, each woman needs 2.1 children. Latvian total fertility rate is close to the European Union average.