The babies born alive in Moldova in 2013 totaled 37,900, a decrease of 1,564 children or 4% on 2012. The birth rate was 10.6 babies born alive per 1,000 people. The natality in rural areas was higher than in urban areas, IPN reports, quoting the National Bureau of Statistics.
Over 51% of the babies born alive were boys, the masculinity ratio being 105 boys to 100 girls. The average age of mothers at the first birth was almost 24 years. The women from rural areas usually give birth to an earlier age than those from urban areas, respectively at 23 and 25.5. Over 74% of the children were born by mothers younger than 30.
The out-of-wedlock birth rate remains high. The children born outside marriage represented 22%. Of the total number of babies born alive, 28,000 or 73.9% were born by mothers at the first marriage.
The number of divorces got by court decision was 10,800 or by 1.3% more than in 2012. The average divorce rate was 3 per 1,000 people.
