In Uruguay this year, the number of deaths has exceeded the number of births

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In Uruguay, a total of 21,844 deaths and 17,552 births were registered in the first six months of 2021, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Health reported by El País newspaper. This is the first time that this difference has occurred since records began.

The figures show, in part, the consequences of the health emergency of Covid-19, which led to a significant increase in the number of deaths. These figures also indicate that the year will end with a decline in the birth rate, to 1.4 children per woman of childbearing age. At the beginning of the 21st century, this figure was 2.1.

During his appearance before the Budget Committee, Daniel Salinas of the Ministry of Public Health said that it was necessary to work on this situation, which he considered a “problem” for the country and will bring difficulties in the long term.

For this reason, the minister proposed creating a commission of experts to analyze the problem to find government measures to promote the birth rate.

If the trend continues, the portfolio estimates that 2021 will end with 26 births per 1,000 teenage mothers, compared to 28 per 1,000 in 2020.