The FINANCIAL — The number of live births equaled 51 138 in 2018 (26 538 male and 24 600 female babies), registering a 4.0 percent decrease from the previous year. Compared to 2017, the sex ratio at birth remained unchanged – male births per 100 female births equaled 107.9.
In 2018 the largest number of live births was recorded in Tbilisi (16 161) while the smallest – in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region (328).
Compared to 2017, in 2018 the share of the first child in total births decreased from 38.9 percent to 37.9 percent. Consequently, the share of the third and next order child increased from 22.6 percent to 23.4 percent, while the share of the second child remaining almost unchanged.
Compared to 2017, in 2018 the share of births for women aged less than 25 declined from 32.7 percent to 31.1 percent, while increasing for women aged 25-39 (from 64.6 percent to 66.0 percent), and remaining almost unchanged for women aged 40 years and older.
The mean age of mothers at first birth equaled 25.6 years.
In 2018 the number of deaths decreased by 2.7 percent in annual terms and totaled 46 524 persons.
Similarly to the birth statistics, the largest number of deaths was recorded in Tbilisi (12 122) while the smallest – in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region (656).
The number of infant deaths (child under 1 year of age) equaled 416 in 2018. Accordingly, the infant mortality rate (per 1 000 live births) equaled 8.1 ‰, a 1.5 points decrease from the previous year.
Similarly, the under-5 mortality rate (per 1 000 live births) decreased by 1.4 points compared to the previous year and totaled 9.8‰.
In 2018 the natural increase (the difference between the number of births and the number of deaths) equaled 4 614 decreasing by 15.7 percent year-on-year.
In 2018 negative natural increase was registered in Imereti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Guria, Kakheti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, and Shida Kartli regions.
The number of registered marriages equaled 23 202 in 2018, showing a 2.0 percent decrease from the previous year.
The mean age of first marriage in 2018 equaled 27.7 years for females and 30.4 years for males.
The number of divorces equaled 10 288 increasing by 0.6 percent compared to the previous year.
