Georgia Records Lowest Number of Live Births in Over Three Decades

2026-03-27 - 13:02

Georgia had 37,867 live births in 2025, the lowest figure since 1994, the earliest year for which official data is publicly available. According to figures published by the National Statistics Office of Georgia on March 27, the number of live births declined by 4.1% from 2024. A total of 19,856 boys and 18,011 girls were born. Deaths rose 0.8% to 44,319, leaving the country with 6,452 more deaths than births in 2025. The population decline persisted across all regions except Tbilisi, Adjara, and Kvemo Kartli. The most births were recorded in Tbilisi (14,334), Adjara (4,551), and Guria (807). The fewest were in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region (191). Tbilisi also had the highest number of deaths (12,743), while Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti had the fewest (585). Geostat data shows a modest increase in first-order births, rising to 36.6% from 35.9% in 2024. Second children accounted for 32.9%, while third and subsequent births remained largely unchanged at 29.1%. Births among women aged 25-39 increased to 70.4% from 69.5%, while births among women under 25 declined to 21.9% from 23.2%. Births among women aged 40 and older rose slightly to 7.7%. The mean age of mothers at first birth was 27.4 years. Infant mortality stood at 7.6 per 1,000 live births, while the under-five mortality rate reached 9.1 per 1,000. A total of 22,285 marriages were registered in 2025, up 2.9% from the previous year. The average age at first marriage was 30.1 for women and 32.4 for men. Divorces declined by 2.6% to 13,173. Georgian Dream leaders have attributed the declining birth rate to what they call “ideological” factors. GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, speaking during a February 18 interpellation session in the disputed parliament, described the current demographic trends as “one of the most painful and important topics” facing Georgia. He argued the decline stems from “grave ideological and worldview-related processes” rather than socio-economic reasons. He said the country had “largely freed itself from these [processes] only last year,” despite what he described as “immense foreign pressure.” As an example, he cited the backlash that followed the adoption of the anti-LGBT legislation “On Protection of Family Values and Minors.” He added that the government is ready to “engage in a more in-depth discussion on demographic issues” and on potential “incentive measures” to address the trends. Also Read: 25/04/2025 – Georgia’s Population 3.704 Million – Geostat 30/03/2023 – The Main Demographic Indicators of Georgia in 2022 Published