The number of births fell by 13% in July compared with the same month in the previous year, while deaths went up by 2.8%, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said. Meanwhile, the number of marriages went down by 14%, with 4,859 couples tying the knot. Fully 6,793 children were born in July, while there were 10,044 deaths. The natural population loss was 27,986 people in Jan-July 2024, compared with 24,923 in the same period of 2023. Fully 80,194 children were born between Aug 2023 and July 2024, 8.8% less than in the same period twelve months earlier. Altogether 126,208 people died between Aug 2023 and July 2024, 3.4% less than in the year before. There were 8.0 live births and 13 deaths per thousand inhabitants in the first seven months.