Georgian population decreases

According to the National Statistics Office of Georgia, the number of new-born babies decreased by 17% compared to 2011. 29. 801 boys and 27. 230 girls were born in 2012 - altogether reaching 57. 000; while the number of people who died in 2012 reached 49. 000. The overall increase of population in the current years was observed from 2004 to 2008. Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II, played an important role in increasing this tendency. He became the god-father of every third child of a family. However, enthusiasm and religion cannot solve the demographic problem in the country. Experts predict that in the next 5-7 years, the birth rate will slow down. Serious long-term social programmes should be envisaged during the country’s planning strategy and the foundations to such changes should be created immediately.