The number of newborns registered during the first three months of 2018 (4,612 children) also was smaller than that recorded in the same period of 2017– by 336 children.
The number of deaths registered over the last four years is fairly stable at around 28,500 . Over the first three months of this year, 8,004 deaths were registered, which is 27 deaths fewer than in the 1st quarter of 2017. The harsh winter months generally take a higher toll than summer.
Latvia's ''natural increase'' (the term used to reflect births minus deaths) is still negative. During the first three months of 2018, as the number of deaths exceeded the number of births, Latvia's population declined by 3,392 persons (in the corresponding period of 2017 – by 3 083).