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Latvian gov't agency reports 5.6 pct increase in births in 2014

Xinhua, May 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

The number of births in Latvia in 2014 grew by 5.6 percent against the year before, while the number of deaths decreased, the Latvian Center for Disease Prevention and Control reported Tuesday.

The number of births grew to 21,229 in 2014, up from 20,094 in 2013, according to health statistics.

The government agency also noted a 2.0 percent drop in abortions and a 4.0 percent decrease in induced abortions in 2014.

Latvia's mortality statistics also improved last year as the infant mortality rate dropped to the lowest point in a decade, or 3.9 deaths per 1,000 newborns. The number of infant deaths was down from 91 in 2013 to 83 last year.

The overall mortality rate declined by 3.0 percent, 28,188 people died in Latvia last year.

Cardiovascular disease, cancer and external factors like accidents, suicide and murder remained the three most commonplace causes of death in Latvia, the government agency said.

Latvia, with its population of less than 2 million, has been suffering both from one of the lowest birth rates and highest mortality rates in the EU. Endit