In 2023

Number of births, deaths and marriages decreased compared to 2022 

The Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) releases today the final data on live births, deaths, and marriages for the year 2023.

The data for 2023 were compiled based on information recorded at the Civil Registry Offices up until March 2024. It is important to note that the data concerning deaths in 2023 are subject to revisions following the codification of the causes of death for the respective year.

The final demographic statistics for 2023 reveal a negative natural balance of 1,040 persons in the region, resulting from 1,747 live births and 2,787 deaths. In 2022, the natural balance had been equally negative, albeit more pronounced, with a decrease of 1,345 persons (1,758 live births and 3,103 deaths).

Live Births – Average age of mothers at the birth of their first child remained at 30.5 years in 2023

There were 1,747 live births of mothers residing in the Region, a decrease of 0.6% (11 children) compared to 2022.

The highest number of births occurred in November (182) and the lowest was in June (123). Of the 1,747 children born in 2023, 52.8% were male, resulting in a sex ratio at birth of 112, meaning that approximately 112 boys were born for every 100 girls. Nationally, this ratio was 104.

Continuing a trend that has been ongoing since 2016, the majority of births in 2023 were out of wedlock, accounting for 62.7% of the total (59.5% in the country): 42.1% from cohabiting parents and 20.7% from parents not cohabiting.

The largest proportion of births occurred to mothers aged over 29 years (66.2%), which is higher than the national percentage (65.2%). Mothers aged between 30 and 39 years were responsible for 57.0% of all births recorded this year.

The share of live births from mothers aged 40 or older was slightly lower than in 2022 (9.4% in 2022 and 9.3% in 2023), with the number of live births from mothers in this age group decreasing from 166 to 162.

The number of live births from teenage mothers (aged 19 or younger) increased from 25 in 2022 to 28 in 2023 (1.4% in 2022 and 1.6% in 2023).

On average, mothers residing in the region had their first child at 30.5 years, the same age as the previous year. At the time of birth (regardless of birth order), mothers were, on average, 32.3 years old.

Deaths – January saw the highest number of deaths in 2023

There were 2,787 deaths registered, 316 fewer than in 2022 (3,103 deaths), representing a decrease of 10.2%. Of all deaths recorded this year, 81.1% occurred among persons aged 65 or older (86.4% nationally) and 52.6% among those aged 80 or older (60.1% in Portugal).

The number of deaths varied throughout the months of the year, with the highest record in January (291 deaths) and the lowest in November (182 deaths).

In 2023, there were 1,366 deaths of men (49.0%) and 1,421 of women (51.0%). Since the beginning of the century, only since 2010 has the number of deaths of women exceeded that of men, except the year 2016.

In the referenced year, there was 1 death under one year old (3 in 2022) and 5 stillborn foetuses of mothers residing in the ARM (7 in 2022). Consequently, the infant mortality rate decreased to 0.6 deaths per thousand live births (1.7 in 2022), a value below the national average (2.5 deaths per thousand live births).

Marriages – The average age at first marriage increased in 2023

In the ARM, in 2023, 1,137 marriages were celebrated, representing a slight decrease of 0.2% compared to the previous year (1,139 marriages).

Of the total marriages observed during this period, 94.6% were between persons of the opposite sex, with the remaining 5.4% celebrated between same-sex persons (61 in total: 38 between males and 23 between females). It is noteworthy that the number of marriages between same-sex persons, both male and female, is the highest since this type of marriage was permitted in the civil registry in 2010.

The number of marriages varied throughout the months of the year, reaching its peak in September (163 marriages). The lowest number of marriages occurred in February, with 50 marriages celebrated.

Data also reveal that 68.9% of the marriages officiated in 2023 were "first marriages". Notably, in 70.2% of marriages, the spouses already shared a residence before the marriage. According to the matrimonial property regime, in 62.6% 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, 76.4% were conducted civilly and 23.3% by Catholic rite.

The average age at first marriage rose to 33.5 years for women and 35.4 years for men (respectively, 33.4 and 34.9 years in 2022).

In 2023, there were 1,009 dissolutions of marriage due to the death of a spouse, 93 fewer than in 2022. These resulted in 258 widowers and 751 widows. 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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