Hungarian society is shrinking: birth rate at historic low

The number of births fell by 11 percent in May compared with the same month in the previous year, while deaths went down by 6.2 percent, according to preliminary data published by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Thursday.

Birth rate in Hungary at historic low

Since we’ve had retrospective monthly data, there have never been so few children born in May. What is more, according to Portfolio, the annual data suggest that today’s figure is a century-long negative record.

The number of marriages was up by 1.2 percent with 5,510 couples tying the knot in the same period.

Fully 6,284 children were born in May, while there were 9,501 deaths.

The natural population loss was 3,217 people compared with 3,085 in May 2023.

Fully 82,313 children were born between June 2023 and May 2024, 7.8 percent fewer than in the same period of last year. Altogether 125,668 people died in the same period, 5.0 percent fewer than last year.

There were 8.0 live births and 13.3 deaths per thousand inhabitants in the first five months.

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Featured image: depositphotos.com