Croatia records slight drop in number of births

ZAGREB, July 22 (Hina) – In 2019, as compared to the previous year, a decrease of 2.2% was recorded in the number of live births in Croatia, i.e. 810 fewer children were born than in 2018, according to the Croatian Bureau of Statistics.

Out of the 36,296 births in 2019, there were 36,135 live births and 161 stillbirths. Out of 36,135 live births, 18,478, or 51.1%, were boys and 17, 657, or 48.9%, were girls. The live birth rate (live births per 1,000 inhabitants) was 8.9.

In 2019, the number of deaths decreased compared to the previous year, as 912 persons died, or 1.7% less than in 2018. Out of the total number of deaths (51,794) in 2019, 25,352, or 48.9%, were men and 26,442, or 51.1%, were women. The death rate (deaths per 1,000 inhabitants) was 12.7.

The number of infant deaths in 2019 was 143, or 0.28% of the total number of deaths. Out of the total number of infant deaths, 81 infants, or 56.6%, died during the first week of life. The infant death rate (the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 4.0, while in 2018 it was 4.2.

The natural increase rate in 2019 was negative at -3.9 (-15,659 persons). The negative natural increase was also confirmed by the vital index (live births per 100 deaths), which amounted to 69.8.

A positive natural increase was recorded in 50 towns/municipalities, a negative one in 497 towns/municipalities and in the City of Zagreb, while 8 towns/municipalities recorded a zero natural increase.

In 2019, there were 19,761 marriages. The marriage rate (marriages per 1,000 inhabitants) was 4.9.

In 2019, there were 5,936 final court decisions related to divorces, 189 fewer than in 2018. The divorce rate (divorces per 1,000 inhabitants) was 1.5. In 2019, the number of divorces per 1,000 marriages amounted to 300.4.