In 2024

Number of births and marriages increased, while the number of deaths decreased compared to 2023

The Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) releases today the final data on live births, deaths, and marriages for the year 2024.

The data for 2024 were compiled based on information recorded at the Civil Registry Offices up until March 2025. It is important to note that the data concerning deaths in 2024 are subject to revisions following the codification of the causes of death for the respective year.

The final results of demographic statistics for 2024 reveal a negative natural balance of 781 persons in the Region, resulting from 1 793 live births lower than the number of deaths (2 574). In 2023, the natural balance had been equally negative, albeit more pronounced, with a decrease of 1 040 persons (1 747 live births and 2 787 deaths).

Live Births – Mean age of mothers at the birth of their first child fell to 30.0 years

In 2024, there were 1 793 live births to mothers residing in the Region, representing an increase of 2.6% (46 more children) compared to 2023.

The highest number of births occurred in October (173) and the lowest in February and July (134 each).

Of the 1 793 children born in 2024, 52.2% were male, resulting in a sex ratio at birth of 109, meaning that approximately 109 boys were born for every 100 girls. Nationally, this ratio stood at 106.

Continuing a trend that has been ongoing since 2016, the majority of births in 2024 were out of wedlock, accounting for 65.6% of the total births (59.2% in the country): 44.1% to cohabiting parents and 21.5% to non-cohabiting parents.

The largest proportion of births occurred to mothers aged over 29 years, 62.1%, which is lower than the national percentage (65.2%). Notably, mothers aged between 30 and 39 years were responsible for 54.0% of all births recorded this year.

The share of live births from mothers aged 40 or older was slightly lower than in 2023 (9.3% in 2023 and 8.1% in 2024), with the number of live births from mothers in this age group decreasing from 162 to 145. Conversely, the number of live births from teenage mothers (aged 19 or younger) increased from 28 in 2023 to 34 in 2024 (1.6% in 2023 and 1.9% in 2024).

On average, mothers residing in the Region had their first child at 30.0 years, slightly earlier than in 2023 (30.5 years). Considering all births of children regardless of the order of birth, the average age of mothers was 31.8 years, also lower than that recorded in 2023 (32.3 years).
 

Deaths – January saw the highest number of deaths in 2024

There were 2 574 deaths registered in the Region, 213 fewer than in 2023 (2 787 deaths), representing a decrease of 7.6%. Of all deaths recorded this year, 81.9% occurred among persons aged 65 or older (86.7% nationally) and 52.2% among those aged 80 or older (60.7% in Portugal).

The number of deaths varied throughout the months of the year, with the highest record in January (243 deaths) and the lowest in June (185 deaths).

In 2024, there were 1 207 deaths of men (46.9%) and 1 367 of women (53.1%). Since the beginning of the century, female deaths have outnumbered male deaths in the Region from 2010 onwards, except in 2016.

In the referenced year, there were 6 deaths under one year old (1 in 2023) and 7 stillborn foetuses of mothers residing in the ARM (5 in 2023). Consequently, the infant mortality rate increased to 3.3 deaths per thousand live births (0.6 in 2023), a value above the national average (3.0 deaths per thousand live births).

Marriages – The average age at first marriage increased in 2024

In the ARM, in 2024, 1 225 marriages were celebrated, which represents an increase of 7.7% compared to the previous year (1 137 marriages).

Of the total marriages observed during this period, 95.7% were between persons of the opposite sex, with the remaining 4.3% celebrated between same-sex persons (53 in total: 34 between males and 19 between females).

The number of marriages varied throughout the months of the year, reaching its peak in September (155 marriages). The lowest number of marriages occurred in February, with 53 marriages celebrated.

Data also reveal that 67.4% of the marriages officiated in 2024 were "first marriages". Notably, in 72.4% of marriages, the spouses already shared a residence before the marriage. According to the matrimonial property regime, in 55.9% of the marriages, the parties opted for the regime of joint marital property.

Regarding the form of celebration of marriages between persons of the opposite sex, 77.8% were conducted civilly and 22.1% by Catholic rite.

The average age at first marriage rose to 33.7 years for women and 35.9 years for men (respectively, 33.5 and 35.4 years in 2023).

In 2024, there were 932 dissolutions of marriage due to the death of a spouse, 77 fewer than in 2023. These resulted in 278 widowers and 654 widows, including the dissolution of a marriage between two women. The dissolution of marriage due to the death of a spouse predominantly affects women, due to the higher life expectancy of females.

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