INCREASE OF BIRTH RATE IN ARMENIA WAS 2.7% DURING NINE MONTHS COMPARED WITH 2008 – MINISTRY OF WELFARE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

ARKA
Oct 23, 2009

YEREVAN, October 23. /ARKA/. "Increase of birth rate in Armenia was
2.7% during the last nine months of 2009 compared with the data of
2008", said Vanik Babajanyan, Head of Department of Demography of
the Ministry of Welfare and Social Issues on Friday.

"This year 41.100 children were born in Armenia compared with the
indicator of 40 thousand of the last year. It means that there is
increase of 2.7% in the birth rate", said Babajanyan. Despite the
registered increase of birth rate in Armenia today the level of
demographic development is on low level, as such a percent can not
provide normal demographic development.

"If we compare the data registered in 1988, 1995 and 2008, we can
see that there are problems in the sphere of birth rate. If in 1988,
79 882 births and in 1995, 48 960 births were registered, in 2008
the figure was 41 185", said Babajanyan. The problem of birth rate in
Armenia as the most important strategic infrastructure of the country
is in the centre of government’s attention.

The Government of Armenia undertook a number of measures for the
encouragement of birth. With this purpose from January 1, 2010 every
family will get 50 thousand drams for each child up 2.5 years.

"The families which will have three non adult children will get
benefit in the amount of 430.000 drams regardless of social status
and nationality. Families which will have more than five children
will get benefit in the amount of 1.000.000 drams", said Babajanyan.

Demographer Ruben Yeganyan said that the main problem of low birth rate
in Armenia is high level of migration, as well as decrease of number
of marriages and increase of number of divorces. "The important factor
of low birth rate in Armenia is the hard social-economic situation
which increases migration processes and worsens the level of birth
rate in Armenia", he said. As of January 1, 2009, 41 238 infants were
born in Armenia which is by 2.8% more than the indicator of 2007.

According to the data of National Statistic Service of Armenia, 22
thousand of births are boys and 19.1 thousand – girls. The indicator
of birth rate per 1 thousand of population reached 12.8 thousand in
January-December 2008 and was increased by 0,4 points compared with
January-December 2007. ($1 – 385.85 drams).