The National Statistical Committee of Armenia has published new data on the country's demographic situation, revealing an intriguing and somewhat paradoxical picture.
As of July 1, 2024, the permanent population of Armenia reached 3,057,800, an increase of 112,300 compared to the previous year. Of the total population, 1,973,400 live in urban areas, with more than half of the urban population—1,134,000 people—residing in the capital, Yerevan. The rural population stands at 1,084,400.
Despite this overall population growth, there is a concerning trend of declining birth rates. In the first half of 2024, 15,671 children were born in Armenia, a 7.7% decrease compared to the same period in 2023. This decline in births has been observed since the beginning of the current year.
Additionally, there has been a 9.7% increase in stillbirths, reaching 227 cases compared to the first half of 2023. The overall mortality rate has also risen: 13,211 people died in Armenia from January to June 2024, a 5.9% increase from the same period last year.
As a result, the natural population growth was only 2,460 people, a 45.4% decrease from the corresponding period last year.
Experts attribute the increase in Armenia's overall population, despite declining birth rates and rising mortality, to the influx of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. This occurred following a mass exodus of the population from Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023.
