The number of children born in 2005 constituted 37 695, by 577 children less comparing to 2004, the birth rate constituting 10,5 born children per 1000 inhabitants. According to the information of the National Bureau of Statistics the birth rate in the rural localities is higher than in the urban localities 11,5% compared to 9,1%. At the same time the out of wedlock birth rate continues to grow. In 2005, every fourth child was born out of wedlock, of which 66,5% in the rural area. As well the decrease tendency of the number of newborn children by mothers under 20 is maintaining amounting to 13,4% out of the total born children, comparing to 15,2% in 2002 (16,9% in 2000). The majority of children born in big (numerous) families is registered in rural areas, 85% of the total number of the newborns of this category. The average age of the mothers that give birth for the first time is of 22,4 years. The mothers from the rural area give birth at a younger age than the mothers from the urban area, 21,7 compared to 23,6 yaers.