Preliminary data show that 7,366 children were born and 11,940 people died in December 2022, with the number of live births decreasing by 5.0% and deaths by 13% in January 2022-December 2022 compared with the same period a year earlier, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Friday. The natural population loss was 4,574 in December this year as against 9,150 in December 2021, KSH said. In December 2022, 2,798 couples tied the knot, down 36% from November 2021. In the past 12 months, 88,400 children were born, down 5.0% from the same period of last year, while 135,700 people died, 13% fewer than in the previous year. The natural population loss came to 47,206 compared with 62,582 in the same period of last year, a drop of 24%. Between January 2022 and December 2022, 64,100 couples were married, 11% fewer than in the previous year.