Birth numbers kept falling in 2024

Central Statistical Bureau provisional data show that birth numbers kept declining in 2024 – 12 571 children were born in Latvia, which is 1 919 children (13.2 %) fewer than in 2023. The number of births was under 1 000 in all three closing months of the year. In October it was 994, in November 940, and in December 921. Moreover, each month of 2024 had the smallest number of births in the past hundred years.

Deaths at least twice as many as births since 2021

Last year, 26 341 deaths were registered, which is 6.0 % (1 690 deaths) fewer than in 2023. The largest year-on-year reduction was recorded in Q4 2024 (9.0 %). The smallest number of deaths was registered in September (1 956) and the greatest in January (2 702).

The number of deaths has been at least twice as high as the number of births for the last four years. In 2024 the gap made up 13 770, and the largest gap (17 180) was registered in 2021. Natural population change in Latvia has been negative since 1990.

Due to the negative natural population change population has declined by 9.8 thousand in 2024. On 1 January 2025 Latvia provisionally had a population of 1 million 853 thousand.

Number of marriages keeps going down

In 2024, 10 390 marriages were registered, which is 1.5 % (159 marriages) fewer than in 2023. The number of concluded marriages increased slightly after 2020, however for the last two years it has been reducing. Last year, 312 marriages fewer were concluded than in 2020 when due to the pandemic gatherings were restricted.

Extended key vital statistics is available in official statistics portal data tables and data visualisation tool:

• Population and key vital statistics,
• Deaths by sex and age group in regions,
• Births and deaths in Latvia, 1920–2022.

Methodological information

Deaths – provisional number of deaths in the respective month. To produce annual statistics the data are specified by supplementing the death number with the number of persons the death whereof was registered after the national registration deadline (six working days) as well as usual residents of Latvia who passed away while temporarily abroad.

Live births – provisional number of live births in the respective month. To produce annual statistics the data are specified by supplementing the birth number with the number of children the birth whereof was registered after the national registration deadline (one month) as well as children born to usual residents of Latvia while temporarily abroad. Children born to parents who are not citizens of Latvia and do not have usual residence in Latvia are excluded from the birth number.

CSB provisional population change data processing methods in more detail are explained in the official statistics portal reference metadata section Fertility and mortality.

Media requests:
Public Relations Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 27880666

More information on data:
Ance Ceriņa
Social Statistics Methodology Section
E-mail: Ance.Cerina@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366904