In Latvia, the number of newborns has not decreased for the first time in a long time. Is there nowhere else to go? 0 17

After a long period of declining birth rates, Latvia has recorded relative stability in the number of newborns for the first time in a long time.

According to preliminary data from the Central Statistical Bureau, 2,757 newborns were registered in the country in the first three months of 2026 — just one child more than in the same period last year.

Among the newborns, there were 1,405 boys and 1,352 girls.

In March, the number of registered births even slightly increased — to 996 children, which is 11 more than a year earlier.

Despite this, the demographic situation in the country remains severe.

In the first three months of this year, 7,302 deaths were registered in Latvia — 426 more than a year ago.

As a result, the number of deaths exceeded the number of births by 4,545.

For comparison, in the first quarter of last year, the difference was 4,120.

What is important to understand is that even with the halt in the decline of birth rates, the natural decrease in the population of Latvia remains one of the key long-term problems of the country. The number of deaths now exceeds the number of newborns by more than two and a half times.

At the same time, statistics show a decrease in the number of marriages.

In the first three months of the year, 1,171 weddings were registered in Latvia — almost 17.5% less than in the same period last year.

Demographers have previously noted that decisions about starting a family and having children continue to be influenced by economic uncertainty, rising living costs, and migration processes.

As of April 1, the preliminary population of Latvia was 1.816 million people.

Against the backdrop of ongoing population aging, the topic of demographics remains one of the most sensitive for the Latvian economy and social system — from the labor market to the future pension system.