In 2025

Number of deaths and marriages increased, while the number of births decreased compared to 2024

The Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) releases today the final data on live births, deaths and marriages for 2025.

The data for 2025 were compiled based on information recorded at the Civil Registry Offices up until March 2026. It should be noted that the data concerning deaths in 2025 are subject to revisions following the codification of the causes of death for the respective year.

The final demographic statistics for 2025 reveal a negative natural balance of 1 127 persons in the Region, resulting from 1 745 live births and 2 872 deaths. In 2024, the natural balance had been equally negative, albeit less pronounced, at -781 persons (1 793 live births and 2 574 deaths).

Live Births – Average age of mothers at the birth of their first child rose to 30.6 years

In 2025, there were 1 745 live births of mothers residing in the Region, down by 2.7% (48 children) over 2024.

The highest number of births occurred in November (178) and the lowest in June (122).

Of the 1 745 children born in 2025, 53.0% were male, resulting in a sex ratio at birth of 113, meaning that approximately 113 boys were born for every 100 girls. Nationally, this ratio was 105.

Continuing a trend that has been ongoing since 2016, the majority of births registered in 2025 occurred outside marriage, accounting for 62.2% of the total (59.2% nationally): 41.8% from cohabiting parents and 20.4% from non-cohabiting parents.

The largest proportion of births occurred to mothers aged over 29 years, at 64.2%, a percentage lower than the national figure (65.6%). It should be noted that mothers aged between 30 and 39 years were responsible for 56.0% of all births recorded in 2025.

The share of live births from mothers aged 40 or older was higher than in 2024 (8.1% in 2024 and 8.3% in 2025), with the number of live births from mothers in this age group decreasing from 145 to 144. The number of live births from teenage mothers (aged 19 or younger) decreased from 34 in 2024 to 26 in 2025 (1.9% in 2024 and 1.5% in 2025).

On average, mothers residing in the Region had their first child at 30.6 years, slightly later than in 2024 (30.0 years). Considering the birth of children regardless of birth order, the average age of mothers was 32.0 years, also higher than that recorded in 2024 (31.8 years).

Deaths – January saw the highest number of deaths in 2025

In 2025, there were 2 872 deaths registered, up by 298 over 2024 (2 574 deaths), representing an increase of 11.6%. Of all deaths recorded this year, 82.8% occurred among persons aged 65 or older (87.1% nationally) and 52.4% among those aged 80 or older (61.3% in Portugal).

The number of deaths changed throughout the months of the year, with the highest record in January (299 deaths) and the lowest in June (194 deaths).

In 2025, there were 1 394 deaths of men (48.5%) and 1 478 of women (51.5%). Since the beginning of the century, only from 2010 onwards has the number of deaths of women has exceeded that of men, with the exception of 2016.

In the reference year, there were 3 deaths of infants aged under one year (6 in 2024) and 2 stillborn foetuses of mothers residing in the ARM (7 in 2024). Consequently, the infant mortality rate decreased to 1.7 deaths per thousand live births (3.3 in 2024), a value below the national average (2.8 deaths per thousand live births).

Marriages – Average age at first marriage increased in 2025

In the ARM, in 2025, 1 286 marriages were celebrated, representing an increase of 5.0% compared to the previous year (1 225 marriages). Of the total marriages observed during this period, 96.0% were between persons of the opposite sex, with the remaining celebrated between same-sex persons (52 in total: 25 between males and 27 between females).

The number of marriages changed throughout the months of the year, reaching its peak in September (166 marriages). The lowest number of marriages occurred in January, with 64 marriages celebrated.

Data also reveal that 66.1% of the marriages celebrated in 2025 were "first marriages". It should be noted that in 75.4% of marriages, the spouses already shared a residence prior to marriage. According to the matrimonial property regime, in 58.7% of marriages, the parties opted for the community of acquests regime.

As regards the form of celebration of marriages between persons of the opposite sex, 76.6% were civil ceremonies and 23.1% were celebrated according to the Catholic rite.

The average age at first marriage rose to 33.8 years for women and 36.0 years for men (33.7 and 35.9 years, respectively, in 2024).

In 2025, there were 1 028 dissolutions of marriage due to the death of a spouse, up by 96 over 2024. Of these, 278 resulted in widowers and 750 in widows, including the dissolution of one marriage between two men. The dissolution of marriage due to the death of a spouse affects women in particular, owing to their greater life expectancy.

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