Portugal’s death rate rises in first six months of year

Portugal registered 61,577 deaths in the first six months of the year, 886 (1.5%) more than in the same period in 2023, preliminary data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) showed this Friday.

The INE’s “Vital Statistics – Monthly Data” presents preliminary data on the number of deaths up to June of this year, as well as the number of live births and marriages up to May 2024, occurring throughout the country.

There were 9,174 deaths registered in June, 418 fewer (4.4%) than the previous month, but 338 more (3.8%) than in June 2023.

INE notes that the number of deaths from Covid-19 has risen to 276, 216 more than in May 2024, representing 3% of the total number of deaths.

The data also shows a decline in the number of births in the first five months of the year, which is 33,976,467 fewer (1.4%) than the figure recorded for the same period in 2023.

In May, 7,028 live births were registered, which corresponds to an increase of 3.1% (211 more) compared to April 2024, but a decrease of 4% (294 fewer) compared to the same month in 2023.

According to INE, the natural balance, calculated based on the number of live births and the number of deaths, worsened in the first five months of this year.

“The accumulated value of the natural balance was -18,309, worse than the value observed for the same period in 2023 (-17,300),” he emphasizes.

In May, the natural balance registered a value of minus 2540, slightly down compared to April 2024 (-2710), but worse than the same month in 2023 (-1891).

Regarding the number of weddings celebrated in Portugal, statistics show a decrease in the first five months of the year, during which 10,796 weddings were held, 292 fewer (2.6%) than in the same period in 2023.

In May 2024, 3,597 weddings were celebrated, which is 1,310 (57.3%) more than the previous month and 15 more (0.4%) than in May 2023.