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Data set notes

European Health for All database

Indicators: 565

Updated: 18 October 2024

Contact: Data and Digital Health Unit (DDH)

The following abbreviations are used in the indicator titles:

• SDR: age-standardized death rates (see HFA-DB user manual/Technical notes, page 13, for details)

• FTE: full-time equivalent

• PP: physical persons

• PPP$: purchasing power parities expressed in US $, an internationally comparable scale reflecting the relative domestic purchasing powers of currencies.

More information: http://www.euro.who.int/en/data-and-evidence/databases/european-health-for-all-database-hfa-db

Indicator notes

Number of live births
Indicator code: E999998.T

Live birth is the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, which, after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached; each product of such a birth is considered live-born. The number of live births includes all live births during the given calendar year, irrespective of registration of the date of birth. WHO receives for most countries the number of live births as part of the annual reporting of mortality and population data. (For some indicators, data is received as part of the Annual HFA data request, e.g. live birth data by age of mother or live births with birth weight of 1000+g. which is used as a denominator for calculation of perinatal mortality rates)._

Country/Area notes

Albania

Source: INSTAT and Ministry of Health.

Armenia

Source of data: National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia www.armstat.am. Data is
based on registration of livebirths in the offices for registration of civil acts.. Data collected
annually.
Break in time series: 2005. Starting from 2005 featuses born with weight 500g+ are included in live
birth and stillbirth statistics, after the introduction of the revised version of ICD-10 in the
country.
Note: for indicator 075003 ?Number of live births, 1000+ grams?: the source of the data is National
Health Information Analytic Center, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia www.healthinfo.am,
the data is collected through form 32 ?Report on medical care for pregnant women, women in labour
and puerperant?, comes from maternity wards and includes all live births, irrespectively of the
mother's place of residence.

Belgium

Source: Statistics Belgium (National Institute for Statistics;
http://statbel.fgov.be/fr/modules/publications/statistiques/population/downloads/evolution_du_nombre
_de_naissances_vivantes.jsp).
2011 marks a (slight) break. From January 1, 2011 the definition of the population imposed by
Eurostat was applied; this mainly means the integration of asylum seekers listed in the waiting
registry in our statistics. In addition, births for which the only source of information is the
National Register (mainly births from residents abroad) are now also included.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina http://www.bhas.ba/
Statistical Institute of Republic of Srpska; http:// www.rzs.rs.ba

Croatia

The number of live births for 1998-2001 includes all children whose mothers are residents of the
Republic of Croatia if they were not absent from Croatia longer than one year or those who were not
residents but have lived in Croatia one year or more. Source: Croatian Central Bureau of Statistics.

For the indicator 075003 - Number of live births, 1000+ grams:
Source of data: Croatian Institute for Public Health, Database of births in health care
institutions.
Coverage: Included are only births in health care institutions, irrespective of mother?s place of
the residence.

Due to differences in the data sources used, it can occur that the number of live births 1000+ grams
is higher than the number of live births (which includes only residents).

Cyprus

Source of data: Annual publication, ?Demographic Report? , Statistical Service of Cyprus (Source:
Ministry of Interior)

Czechia

Source: Czech Statistical Office (CZSO).
Czech national definition specifies live births :
Till March 2012:
Live born child is defined as child expelled or removed out of the mother?s body, who gives sign of
life (respiration, heartbeat, umbilicus pulsation, active movement of muscles) and whose birth
weight is:
a) 500+ grams or b) less than 500 grams and survival for 24 hours after birth.
Since April 2012:
Child expelled or removed out of the mother?s body, who gives sign of life. Definition of live birth
doesn?t contain weight limit and gestational age.

Denmark

Source: The Medical Birth Registry, The Danish Health Data Authority.
Note: In 2006 the sum of male and female live borns is lesser that the total number of live borns do
to 86 registrations with unknown gender.

Estonia

Source: Statistical Office of Estonia.
1970-1991 a different definition of live birth was used: if birth-weight was under 1000 grams and
child died within first week, it was not considered as live birth.
In 2002, in revising the population numbers for the years between the censuses (in 1989 and 2000),
also the data on birth were adjusted. The adjustments were based on the new processing of birth for
the years 1989-1991 and reorganisation of the data of the later years.
Time series have been revised in 2012.

Finland

Source: Statistics Finland. Excludes those not having ID numbers, e.g. recent migrants, visitors.
Source for indicator 075003 (live births 1000+grams) is the Medical Birth Register.

France

Source of data: Institut national de la statistique et des etudes economiques (INSEE).
Coverage: France metropolitan only.
Data on number of live births, 1000+ grams are not available.

Georgia

Source: GeoStat
There are two different sources for the indicators number of live births and number of live births
1000+ gram:
The vital statistics reflects the number of live births registered in the territory of Georgia,
including the live births outside the country but later registered in the country.
The health statistics reflects the number of live births 1000+ gram registered by health facilities
in Georgia.
Prior to introduction of the electronic birth and death registration system in year 2011, the vital
statistics sometimes registered lower numbers than health statistics.

Germany

Source: Federal Statistical Office, Statistics on the natural movement of the population, Fachserie
1, Reihe 1.1.
http://www.destatis.de or http://www.gbe-bund.de
Coverage: The statistics of births are produced from a compulsory complete count. They are based on
reports from the registrar in whose district the birth has taken place. Births of mothers who live
abroad but gave birth to their child in Germany are not included in the statistics of birth.
Break in time series: From reporting year 2014 onwards data on birth weight are no longer collected.
That applies also to indicators:
285601 (Number of all live births to mothers aged under 20 years),
285602 (Number of all live births to mothers aged 35+ years),
075003 (Number of live births with birth-weight of 1000 g and more) and
160401 (% of live births weighing 2500 g or more).

Iceland

Source: The Icelandic Birth Registration/Statistics Iceland

Ireland

Source: Central Statistics Office. Figures for the last year are by year of registration and are
provisional.
Births with unknown weight are excluded from indicator 075003 - Number of live births, 1000+ grams.

Israel

Source: Statistical Abstract of Israel, Central Bureau of Statistics.
For indicator 075003:Livebirths 1000+g source of data for year 2003 and earlier is Health Division,
Central Bureau of Statistics and since 2004, Health Information Division, Ministry of Health.

Italy

Source until 1997: ISTAT. Source from 2003: Ministry of Health, Health Information System, Delivery
Certificates Database. Coverage in 2003: 84% of deliveries, recorded in National Database of
Hospital Discharges. In 2004, 86% of deliveries recorded in National Database of Hospital
Discharges. Coverage in 2005: 92% of deliveries, recorded in National Database of Hospital
Discharges in the same year. Coverage in 2006: 92.9% of deliveries, recorded in National Database of
Hospital Discharges in the same year. Coverage in 2007: 93.0% of deliveries, recorded in National
Database of Hospital Discharges in the same year. Coverage in 2008: 96.0% of deliveries, recorded in
National Database of Hospital Discharges in the same year. Coverage in 2009: 98.2% of deliveries,
recorded in National Database of Hospital Discharges in the same year. The number of live births
registered in the Delivery Certificates Database in 2009 is: 554.738. Coverage in 2010: 98.8% of
deliveries, recorded in National Database of Hospital Discharges in the same year. Coverage in 2011:
98.8% of deliveries, recorded in National Database of Hospital Discharges in the same year. Coverage
in 2012: 99.9% of deliveries, recorded in National Database of Hospital Discharges in the same year.
Coverage in 2013: 100.3% of deliveries, recorded in National Database of Hospital Discharges in the
same year. The number of live births registered in the Delivery Certificates Database in 2013 is:
510.659.

Kazakhstan

Source: Agency of Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Data is based on registration of
livebirths in the offices for registration of civil acts.

Notes:
1) In 2008 live birth and stillbirth criteria, recommended by the World Health Organization, were
introduced in the country.
2) For indicator 075003 ?Number of live births, 1000+ grams? the source is
Administrative medical statistics, form 32 ?Report on medical care for pregnant women, women in
labour and puerperant?. The data comes from maternity wards and includes all live births,
irrespectively of the mother's place of residence.

Kyrgyzstan

Source of data: The number of live births by weight are based on the reports of the National Medical
Information Center (data by birth). The data source for the number of live births is National
Statistical Committee (data on registration). Medical Information Center data exceeds the NSC data.

Latvia

Source of data: Since 2002 the data source has been the Newborns State Register.
Coverage: The number of live births includes all live births born in the territory of Latvia.
Children born abroad and registered as residents of Latvia are not included.

Lithuania

Source: Central Statistical Office (CSO).
November 2013: figures of live births for 2001-2011 have been retroactively adjusted using new
methodology of assessing emigration.

075003 - Number of live births, 1000+:
Source: Health Information Centre of Institute of Hygiene (HI HIC), data of annual report of
maternal hospitals.
Coverage: Incl. newborns born in maternity hospitals in Lithuania, excl. small number of births at
home, newborns born outside country.

Luxembourg

Source: Publication by Statec (etat civil). The data is ?de jure? and includes all residents born in
Luxembourg or abroad. The source of data for indicator 075003:Number of live births, 1000+ grams, is
the Ministry of health and data is ?de facto? and includes all births in Luxembourg, irrespective of
whether or not the person is a resident. Therefore, the number of live births 1000+ grams can be
higher than the total number of live births.

Malta

Source: National Statistic Office.

Montenegro

Source: Statistical Office of Montenegro.

Netherlands

Source of data: Statistics Netherlands, Vital statistics system.

North Macedonia

Source: State Statistical Office (SSO)

Poland

Source of data: Central Statistical Office.
Since 1.7.1994 the standard WHO definitions of live births were introduced. Birth weight criteria is
also at least 500 gr.
Previously, all births were divided into 4 groups: live births, still- births, unable to live with
signs of life, unable to live without signs of life. The criterion for birth weight was at least 601
gr.

Portugal

Source of data: National Statistical Institute Coverage: National

Republic of Moldova

Source of data: The administrative data source is the Ministry of Justice (Civil Status Service).
The NBS develops birth rate statistics based on the statistical bulletins on birth.
Coverage: since 1997, the information is presented without the data for Transnistria and Bender
municipality, but includes some cases of registration of births to mothers who are residents of
these areas.
Data on the number of live births are available at the NBS: www.statistica.md.

Romania

Source of data: The National Institute for Statistics of Romania.

Serbia

Source of data: National Statistical Office.
Coverage: from 1998 onwards data do not cover Kosovo and Metohija Province that is under the interim
civilian and military administration of the UN.
A live born is a child showing any sign of life after birth (e.g. breathing and/or heart beat) even
for a very brief period and regardless of mother's pregnancy duration.

Slovakia

Source: Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic

Slovenia

Source of data: National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia (NIJZ), Perinatal Information Sistem
of the Republic of Slovenia (PIS RS)
Note: data include all births registered in Maternity hospitals in Slovenia.

Spain

Source: National Statistics Institute, extracted from ?Demographic Phenomena. Birth Statistics?
http://www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=/t20/e304/&file=inebase

Sweden

Source of data: Statistics Sweden, number of live births by age and gender
www.scb.se (Online Statistical Database, Table: BE0101E2)
http://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/sv/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101H/FoddaK/table/tableViewL
ayout1/?rxid=e2ff7273-637e-4370-9714- e5d8d41ecc10

Switzerland

Source of data: FSO Federal Statistical Office, BEVNAT
http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/fr/index/infothek/erhebungen__quellen/blank/blank/bevnat/01.html
Coverage:
Break in time series: From 2010: New definition of the permanent resident population, which also
includes asylum seekers with a total length of stay of at least 12 months.

Tajikistan

Livebirth data for the period from 1994 have been adjusted for under-registration of births.
However the mortality data remain incomplete due to under-reporting. This results in significant
under-estimation of infant mortality rate and other mortality-based indicators.

Türkiye

Source of data: TURKSTAT
Method: In 2001, online application of Central Population Management System (MERNIS) has been
launched and with this application birth statistics have been collecting from this database. Since
MERNIS has a dynamic structure, some of birth statistics are being updated regularly. Also before
2009 birth statistics were given by birthplace but after 2009 (incl. 2009) birth statistics have
started to be gathered by mother?s residence place. In 2002-2007, data is from MCHFP (General
Directorate of Mother and Child Health and Family Planning).
There is no data for the indicators: Number of live births to mothers aged under 20 years; Number of
live births to mothers aged over 35 years.

Turkmenistan

Source of data: Administrative medical statistics, form 19 ?Report on medical care for pregnant
women, women in labour and puerperant?, form 096/y ?Journal of labour? and form 102/y ?Journal of
newborns? registration?.

Ukraine

Source of data: State Statistic Department. Data is based on registration of livebirths in the
offices for registration of civil acts (birth certificates for the State Statistics Committee of
Ukraine).
Number of live births, 1000+ grams is according to reporting from obstetric hospitals.

United Kingdom

Source of Data: England and Wales - Office of National Statistics VS1 table.
Scotland - General Register Office for Scotland - number of live births registered during the
calendar year from registration records
N.Ireland - Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
Indicators 285601 and 285602 -
England and Wales - Office for National Statistics VS2PC table.
Scotland - National Records of Scotland;
Northern Ireland - Statistics and research Agency

Coverage: From 1981 figures exclude births in Northern Ireland to non-residents of Northern Ireland.

Note: for indicators 285601 and 285602 for Wales:
Due to data quality, records with maternal age<10 or >54 are not included in the above counts.
Records with no stated maternal age are also excluded.
Data was re-run from 01/04/2001 based on the financial year of birth.
From 1992 figures exclude births in Northern Ireland to non-residents of Northern Ireland

075003 - Number of live births, 1000+ grams:
Data are not available.

General notes

Understanding the Number of Live Births

The number of live births is a critical demographic indicator that provides insights into the reproductive patterns and health status of a population. It refers to the total count of babies born alive in a specific region or country within a given time frame, typically reported annually. This data is essential not only for understanding population growth and structure but also for planning and implementing healthcare, social services, and educational needs. Accurate live birth statistics help governments and organizations forecast future demographic trends and resource requirements, ensuring that the necessary infrastructure and services are in place to support a growing population.

Calculating the Number of Live Births

To accurately calculate the number of live births, health authorities gather data from hospitals, health centers, and birth registries. The process involves recording each live birth that occurs within the jurisdiction over the year. This data collection is crucial for maintaining up-to-date and precise birth statistics. The formula used is straightforward: Total Number of Live Births = Sum of all live births recorded during the year. This method ensures that each new member of the population is accounted for, providing a clear picture of birth rates and helping in the analysis of population growth and health trends.

The Importance of Monitoring Live Births

Tracking the number of live births is vital for multiple sectors within a country. For public health officials, it helps in assessing maternal and infant health services' effectiveness and planning for future healthcare needs. Educational planners use these statistics to forecast school enrollments and resource allocation. Furthermore, policymakers rely on birth data to design social security and child welfare programs. In essence, understanding the dynamics of live births enables a proactive approach in governance and infrastructure development, ensuring that the needs of the population are met efficiently.

Strengths and Limitations of Live Birth Data

While the data on live births is invaluable for demographic and health insights, it comes with its own set of strengths and limitations.

Strengths

The primary strength of live birth data lies in its ability to provide a clear and immediate indicator of population growth and reproductive health. It is a direct measure, less susceptible to the indirect estimation errors that can affect other demographic indicators. This data is crucial for international health organizations and governments in monitoring progress towards global health goals, such as reducing infant mortality rates and improving maternal health.

Limitations

However, the accuracy of live birth data can be compromised by factors such as underreporting in rural or underdeveloped areas and discrepancies in data collection methods between regions. These challenges can lead to incomplete data sets that may not fully represent the true demographic scenario. Additionally, live birth rates alone do not account for other vital factors such as mortality rates and life expectancy, which are necessary for a comprehensive understanding of a population's health and growth patterns.

In conclusion, while live birth data is a fundamental component of demographic and health analysis, it must be interpreted with consideration of its potential limitations and supplemented with other demographic data to provide a complete picture.