Number of births increases, population decline continues to slow down in Romania in October

A total of 17,212 babies were born in Romania in October 2016, 1,960 (12.9%) more than in the same month the previous year, when 15,252 babies were born. The number of deaths also increased in October 2016 compared to the same month the year before, to 21,863 (from 21,065 in October 2015). Thus, Romania’s natural decline (the number of live births minus the number of deaths) has continued to slow down in October, after a similar trend in September and August. The natural decline went down to 4,651 people in October 2016, from 5,813 in October 2015. A total of 100 children aged under 1 died in October this year, the number being lower than the one registered in September 2016 – 101, and October 2015 – 147. A total of 158,667 children were born in Romania in the first ten months of this year, the number being slightly lower than the one registered in the same month the year before (minus 1%). Meanwhile, the number of deaths decreased by 3.3% year-on-year in the first ten months of 2016. The natural decline was thus lower in January-October 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015, of 51,199 (down from 56,746 in the first ten months of 2015). Last year, more than 203,000 babies were born in Romania, some 10% more compared to 2014. 2015 was the second consecutive year when the number of births in the country increased, after reaching a record low of 176,000 in 2013. Romanians over 65 will represent 65% of the population in 2060 Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com