ANOTHER FALL IN BIRTHS AND MARRIAGES

During the first six months of 2012, 5'460 babies were born in the Balearics and, if second half figures are similar, this year's birth rate will be 3.85 percent lower than last year during which time 11, 358 babies were born, according to the national Statistics Institute.

The figures also include births by foreign residents which has also shown another down turn for the third consecutive year.
During the first half of the year, of the total babies born, 28.93 were to foreign mothers, less than 29.12 percent last year and 31.05 percent in 2010.

Marriages
However, not only are fewer babies being born here in the Balearics, fewer people are getting married.
During the first six months of this year, 1'727 weddings were celebrated in the Balearics and again, if the second half of the year mirrors the first, then much fewer people would have got married this year than last year during which time 4'058 weddings were carried out.

The national Statistics Office's report also reveals that fewer people are opting for a traditional religious wedding.
So far this year, only 299 weddings, 17.3 percent, have been religious ones.
With regards to religious weddings, exactly the same is happening as to the birth rate.
Every year, there are fewer.
For example, the 17.3 percent during the first six months of this year is well down on 23.61 percent during the first half of last year and 27.13 during the first six months of 2010.

Recession
The latest demographic report also reveals that here in the Balearics, the birth rate is lower than the rate of mortality.
Numerous reasons have been put forward but the overwhelming one is that couples are thinking twice about getting married or having children because of the prolonged recession which shows little signs of lifting in Spain.