Birth Statistics, 2018

Number of live births was 1 million 248 thousand 847

While the number of live births was 1 million 295 thousand 784 according to the revised 2017 data, it was 1 million 248 thousand 847 in 2018. 51.3% of live births were boys and 48.7% of live births were girls.

Total fertility rate was 1.99 children

Total fertility rate means that the average number of live births that a woman would have under the assumption that she survived to the end of her reproductive life which is 15-49 age group and had a child according to a given age specific fertility rate.

While the total fertility rate was 2.07 children in 2017, this rate was 1.99 children in 2018. It means that a woman gave approximately 1.99 live births during her reproductive life. This showed that fertility remained below the population's replacement level of 2.10.

The highest total fertility rate was in Şanlıurfa with 4.13 children

In 2018 the province having the highest total fertility rate was Şanlıurfa with 4.13 children. Şanlıurfa was followed by Şırnak with 3.6 children, Ağrı with 3.26 children and Muş with 3.23 children. The provinces having the lowest total fertility rate was Gümüşhane with 1.3 children. Gümüşhane was followed by Kütahya, Zonguldak and Edirne with 1.43 children.

The first 10 provinces with the highest and lowest total fertility rates, 2018





Crude birth rate was 15.3 per thousand



Crude birth rate means that the number of live births per thousand population. While the crude birth rate was 16.1 per thousand in 2017, this rate was 15.3 per thousand in 2018. It means that while the number of live births was 16.1 per thousand population in 2017, the number of live births was 15.3 per thousand population in 2018.



The highest crude birth rate was in Şanlıurfa with 31.3 per thousand



When the crude birth rate was examined by provinces, in 2018 the province having the highest crude birth rate was Şanlıurfa with 31.3 per thousand. Şanlıurfa was followed by Şırnak with 27.2 per thousand, Muş with 25.7 per thousand and Ağrı with 25.3 per thousand. The province having the lowest crude birth rate was Edirne with 9.5 per thousand. Edirne was followed by Zonguldak with 9.7 per thousand, Giresun, Gümüşhane, Kırklareli, Bartın and Kastamonu with 9.9 per thousand.

The highest age specific fertility rate was in 25-29 age group



Age specific fertility rate means that the average number of live births per thousand women in certain age group.



When the fertility rate was examined by age group, it was seen that the highest age specific fertility rate was in 25-29 age group. While the age specific fertility rate in this age group was 130 per thousand in 2013, this rate was 128 per thousand in 2018. In other words, the number of live births was 128 per thousand women in 25-29 age group in 2018.



Age specific fertility rates, 2013, 2018





Adolescent fertility rate decreased



Adolescent fertility rate means that the average number of live births per thousand women in 15-19 age group. While the adolescent fertility rate was 29 per thousand in 2013, this rate decreased to 19 per thousand in 2018. In other words, the number of live births was 19 per thousand women in 15-19 age group in 2018.





The next release on this subject will be on May, 2020.



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EXPLANATIONS



Birth statistics was started to be produced from the Central Civil Registration System (MERNIS) database after MERNIS had on-line application in 2001. Birth data were revised 5 years retrospectively due to delayed registrations in the administrative records. Birth statistics for 2013-2017 were updated as of March 31, 2019 and also birth statistics for 2018 were announced as of the same date in this press release.