The number of births fell by 5.7% in February compared with the same month in the previous year, while deaths went down by 3%, according to preliminary data published by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Thursday. Meanwhile, the number of marriages went up by 22% with 2,363 couples tying the knot in the same period. Fully 6,197 children were born in February, while there were 10,664 deaths. The natural population loss was 4,467 people compared with 4,416 in February 2023. Fully 83,928 children were born between February 2024 and March 2023, 6.6% fewer than in the same period of last year. Altogether 128,066 people died between February 2024 and March 2023, 4.2% fewer than in the same period of last year. There were 8.2 live births and 14.5 deaths per thousand inhabitants in the first two months.