Number of childbirths below wartime levels

BELGRADE - The number of childbirths in Serbia in 2013 was lower than during the Balkan wars, World War I or World War II, demographer Goran Penev said on Thursday, adding that the economic situation in the country must be improved for the birth rate to increase.

Quoting the latest figures from the national statistical office, Penev said that only 65,000 babies were born in 2013, the least since 1900.

Out of 168 municipalities in Serbia, 160 have negative population growth rates, and a Serbian family has an average of 1.5 children, say the figures from the statistical office.

"For years, there have been more deaths than births, and no babies were born last year in Crna Trava, the poorest municipality in the country.

Only the Belgrade municipalities of Surcin and Zvezdara, as well as Raska, Novi Pazar, Tutin, Sjenica, Bujanovac and Presevo, have positive population growth rates," Penev told the RTS.

For almost 60 years, the fertility rate has been below replacement level, and the number of live births is constantly decreasing, Penev added.

To improve the situation and enable young people to start families sooner and more easily, a long-term population policy must be adopted, but the economic situation in the country must be improved as well, Penev said.

Photo Tanjug, T,Valic