Compared to the month of January 2024, there was a 32.1% decrease in the number of deaths in February (4,315 fewer deaths).

INE highlights that “the number of deaths due to covid-19 decreased to 27 (129 fewer, compared to January 2024), representing 0.3% of total deaths”.

In January 2024, 7,044 babies were born alive, corresponding to a decrease of 1.6% (112 less) compared to December last year and 2.2% (160 less) compared to the same month of 2023.

In 2023, 85,968 babies were born in Portugal, 1,979 more (+2.4%) than in 2022, the year in which 83,989 live births were recorded.

In January 2024, the natural balance (difference between the number of live births and the number of deaths in a given period) worsened.

This month, the natural balance registered a value of -6,398, worsening in relation to that of December 2023 (-4,985) and that of the same month of 2023 (-4,721)

The natural balance is negative when the number of live births is lower than the number of deaths.

“In 2023, the accumulated value of the natural balance was -32,613, decreasing compared to the value observed in 2022 (-40,640)”, says INE.

INE's Vital Statistics also reveal that the number of marriages celebrated in January 2024 fell by 7.7% compared to January 2023.

“In January 2024, 1,533 weddings were celebrated, a lower number than that recorded in December 2023 (508 fewer; -24.9%) and lower than January 2023 (127 fewer weddings; -7.7%)”, they indicate the data.

In total, 36,980 weddings were celebrated in 2023, 28 more than in 2022.