Accoring to data from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB), the number of marriages registered in the first ten months of this year is up by 9% on the same period last year.
In all, 11,007 marriages were registered in Latvia from January to October, with 925 marriages concluded in October 2014 alone, which is 165 marriages more than in October 2013.
As in other years this year the number of marriages registered in October was around half the level of that in September, since traditionally the largest share of marriages are concluded in the warmer months of the year.
A slight increase in the number of births was witnessed in October. 1,871 newborns were registered, 85 babies more than in October 2013.
During the first ten months of 2014, 18,191 newborns were registered in the country, which is 804 babies more than in the corresponding period of 2013.
However, 2,448 people passed away last month, which is 32 persons fewer than in October 2013 but still comfortably outstripping the birth rate.
During the first ten months of 2014 the level of mortality decreased with 23,563 deaths registered in the country, which is 419 people fewer than in the corresponding period of 2013.
With the number of births lagging behind the number of deaths, natural increase in Latvia remains negative. In the first ten months of 2014, the number of Latvian residents decreased by 5,462.
As a result the population of the country currently remains below the 2 million mark on 1,990,300.
