During the first quarter of 2016, a total of 19043 mothers gave birth to 19141 babies. During the same period, 4146 people died. Based on the statistics, the growth rate of the population was 5%. The General Authority for State Registration and Statistics, however, has informed that this growth rate is comparatively lower than that of the last three years – thus, in comparison to the same period for 2015, the number of mothers giving birth has fallen by 598 and the number of babies born has decreased by 294.

Sadly, there has also been an increase in infant mortality, during the first quarter of 2016, a total of 427 children died. This represents an increase of 106 (33%) on 2015.

Of children below the age of five, 491 have died – this represents an increase of 120 (32.3%) on the same period last year.