Births Decline 10% in First Half
Number of births decreased by 10 percent in the first half of 2011, compared to the same period last year, according to Kalev Noorkõiv, analyst at Statistics Estonia.
In total, 7,226 children were born in the first six months of this year, while in 2010 the figure was 7,947, Noorkõiv told Postimees.
According to the estimate, it is unlikely that the birth figures of the second half of this year will exceed the first six months, meaning that the number of babies born in 2011 would be clearly lower than last year.
Last year's high unemployment and the severe effects of the financial crisis could be one reason why families are not as eager to have children, Minister of the Interior Hanno Pevkur said.
For example, if a parent lost his or her job in 2009, then having a baby this year would mean the lowest possible parental allowance, which is calculated on the basis of the parent's salary.
Ingrid Teesalu