The number of deaths in the first three months was 28 % higher than in the 1st quarter of last year

Data of the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in the first three months of this year, 8 976 deaths were registered, which is almost two thousand (1 944 deaths) or 28 % more than in the first quarter of last year. A significant increase in mortality began in October last year, and this year the number of deaths is 9 % higher than in the last quarter of last year. The highest number of deaths was registered in January - 3.5 thousand, which is the highest number of deaths in one month in the last 20 years.

Meanwhile, the number of births is declining. The number of births registered in the first three months of this year: 4 024 children, is almost 6 % lower than in the corresponding period of 2020.

The number of births and deaths by month can be viewed in the interactive graph on the Statistics portal.

Mortality has a significant impact on natural increase of population. Due to the number of deaths exceeding the number of births, the population of the country decreased by almost five thousand people in the first three months of 2021.

In the first three months of 2021, 1 260 marriages were registered, which is almost 500 marriages or 28 % less than in the corresponding period of the previous year.

On 1 April 2021, the estimated population in Latvia was 1 million 888 thousand.

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366621, +371 27880666

More information on data:
Sigita Šulca
Social Statistics Methodology Section
E-mail: Sigita.Sulca@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366806