In 2018, 34.7 thousand children were born in Moldova, by about two thousand children fewer than in the previous year and over six thousand fewer compared to 2014, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
The birth rate decreased to 13 live births per 1000 inhabitants in 2018, compared to 14 live births to 1000 inhabitants in 2014. More than half of the live births were boys. In 2014, the average age of first-time mothers was 26.8 years, rising to 27.6 years in 2017. According to preliminary data, in 2018 the average age decreased again to the level of 2014.
The number of deaths in 2018 was over 37 thousand, 1.3% more compared to the previous year. Diseases of the circulatory system and malignant tumors continue to be the leading causes of death, both in women and men. In 2018, the two causes accounted for 74.4% of the total deaths.
In 2018, there were more than 20 thousand marriages, a continuous decrease compared to 2014. Most newlyweds in 2018 were in the age group 25-29 years for men and 20-24 years for women.
The level of divorces continues to be high as well. In 2018, there were approximately 11 thousand divorces, by 0.4 thousand fewer than in 2014, but by 1.4 thousand divorces more compared to the previous year.
As concerns migration, the number of departures abroad is higher than that of arrivals and returns to the country. In 2017, almost 110 thousand immigrants came or returned to Moldova and almost 160 thousand migrants left the country.
