ROMANIA Population and demographic phenomena in April 2008

ROMANIA NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS Press Office 16 Libertăţii Avenue, Sector 5, Bucharest Tel/Fax: 318 18 69; Fax 312 48 75 e-mail: romstat@insse.ro; biroupresa@insse.ro PRESS RELEASE No. 121 of June 16, 2008 Population and demographic phenomena in April 2008 The decrease in population also continued in April 2008, following the tendency of the recent years. April 2008 compared to March 2008 Birth rate, death rate and natural increase In April, 16820 live births were recorded, 694 less than in the previous month, leading to a fall in the birth rate to 9.5 live births per 1000 inhabitants, compared to 9.6‰ in March. In April, 21387 deaths were recorded, 595 cases less than in March; the death rate remained constant (12.1 deaths per 1000 inhabitants). The infant death rate (deaths under 1 year per 1000 live births) experienced a fall: 11.2‰ in April compared to 12.5‰ in March, due to the decrease of 30 in the number of deaths under 1 year. The natural increase (the number of live births minus the number of deaths) was negative and rose from -4.5 thousand people in March to -4.6 thousand people in April. Evolution of birth rate and general death rate during the period April 2006 - April 2008 14.0 Rates per 1000 inhabitants Positive natural increase 13.0 12.0 11.0 10.0 9.0 8.0 March January February January November September September December November December February October October August August March May May July June June April April July April Negative natural increase Negative natural increase Positive natural increase 2006 2007 2008 Birth rate General death rate NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS PRESS RELEASE NO. 121/2008 1 Marriage rate and divorce rate 4817 marriages were recorded at registry offices, 2385 cases less than in the previous month, with a marriage rate of 2.7 marriages per 1000 inhabitants (compared to 4.0‰ in March). 3150 divorces were granted by final court decision, up by 117 cases; the divorce rate was 1.79 divorces per 1000 inhabitants in April, compared to 1.66‰ in the previous month. Evolution of marriage rate and divorce rate during the period April 2006 - April 2008 14.0 12.0 Rates per 1000 inhabitants 10.0 8.0 6.0 4.0 2.0 0.0 March February November December November September September December February January October October January August August March May June May June July April April July April 2006 2007 2008 Marriage rate Divorce rate April 2008 compared to April 2007 Birth rate, death rate and natural increase Compared to April 2007, the number of live births rose by 603 children, leading to an increase in the birth rate from 9.2‰ to 9.5‰. The number of deaths was 408 people higher than in April 2007, and the death rate increased from 11.8 deaths per 1000 inhabitants to 12.1‰. Compared to April of the previous year, the infant death rate dropped from 12.3 to 11.2 deaths under 1 year per 1000 live births. The natural increase was negative both in April 2007 (-4.8 thousand people) and in April 2008 (-4.6 thousand people); the natural increase rate remained the same (-2.6 people per 1000 inhabitants). Marriage rate and divorce rate The marriage rate was 2.7 marriages per 1000 inhabitants in April 2008, compared to 7.6‰ in April 2007. The high number of marriages in April 2007 (13466 marriages) was due to the adoption of Law No 396/30.10.2006 on the granting of financial support for starting a family, an effect whose intensity has diminished over time. The drop in the number of divorces (of 113 cases) led to a decrease in the divorce rate from 1.84‰ in April 2007 to 1.79 divorces per 1000 inhabitants in April 2008. Note: The data on the demographic phenomena of 2007 are final; the data for 2008 are operative. The next press release will be issued on July 15, 2008. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS PRESS RELEASE NO. 121/2008 2