NATIONAL STATISTICS SERVICE: BIRTH RATE DECLINED

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 July 2006

In the first half of 2006 983 children were born in NKR compared
with 1019 children in the first half of 2005. The death rate was 661
compared with 678 in 2005. The natural growth of the population in the
first half of 2006 was 322, declining by 19 or 5.6 percent compared
with the first half of 2005. In the same period 315 marriages were
registered compared with 281 of the previous year. The rate of divorce
is 59 against 55 of the previous year. By official records, in the
first half of 2006 426 people arrived in and 411 people left NKR.

AA. 07-07-2006