Demographic data for the first half of 2010 show a continued decline in Latvia’s population, the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) in Rīga reports, while marriages dropped significantly compared to the same period last year.

The country’s population as of July 1 stood at 2.238 million, a decrease of 10,500 residents since the beginning of the year. The pace of population decline had slowed in the past several years, according to an Aug. 5 press release, but began increasing again last year. The capital city of Rīga had about 702,700 residents on July 1, a half-percent drop since the beginning of the year.

According to the statistical bureau, the population decline in Latvia is due in part to 5,600 more deaths than births being recorded. However, a total of 4,900 people also emigrated from the country in the first half of the year.

A 20 percent drop in marriages was recorded in the first half of this year compared to the first six months of 2009. The decrease continues a trend that began in 2009, according to the CSB. Since 2002, the number of marriages had been on the upswing. In the first half of this year a total of 2,876 marriages were recorded, compared to 3,592 during the same period last year.

Data for the first half of 2010 also show a decline in births. Two years ago, according to the CSB, Latvia saw the greatest number of births since 1994, but in 2009 the number of newborns began to slip. In the first half of this year a total of 9,630 births were recorded, a 13.4 percent drop from the same period last year.

At least residents of Latvia are not dying off as quickly. The death rate, according to the CSB, has not changed much in the past several years. In the first half of 2010, a total of 15,250 deaths were recorded in the country, compared to 15,394 in the first six months of 2009.

A total of 13 political parties or coalitions in Latvia will field more than 1,200 candidates in the Oct. 2 parliamentary election, the Central Election Commission in Rīga announced Aug. 3 after the filing period closed.

While the number of candidate lists is the lowest since the nation renewed its independence, the number of candidates is the highest, according to data compiled by the commission. With 100 seats in the Saeima, that means there are 12 candidates vying for each spot.

Of the 13 lists of candidates, just six are from singular political parties. The rest are from coalitions of parties.

The greatest number of candidates, 375, are running in the Rīga election district. Vidzeme has 298 candidates; Latgale, 207; Zemgale, 191; and Kurzeme, 168.

Parties fielding candidates include:

• The center-left Saskaņas Centrs, which was the first to file.
• The leftist Par cilvēka tiesībām vienotā Latvijā.
• The pro-business and reformist Par Prezidentālu Republiku, a new party.
• The conservative coalition Par Labu Latviju!, whose five members include Tautas partija, Latvijas Pirmā partija, Ogres novadam, Vienota Rēzekne and Latgales tauta.
• The centrist coalition Vienotība, which is composed of Jaunais laiks, Pilsoniskā savienība and Sabiedrība citai politikai.
• Ražots Latvijā, another new pro-business political coalition. It consists of Ražotāja Latvija, Demokrāti.LV and Latvijas kustība Solidaritāte.
• The conservative Zaļo un Zemnieku savienība.
• The socialdemocratic coalition Atbildība, which includes Latvijas Sociāldemokrātiskā strādnieku partija,  Mūsu zeme, Sociālā taisnīguma partija and Latvijas Atmoda.
• The new centrist party Tautas kontrole.
• The nationalist coalition Visu Latvijai!, which includes the party by the same name and Tēvzemei un Brīvībai/LNNK.
• The Christian democratic Kristīgi Demokrātiskā Savienība.
• The nationalist Daugava-Latvijai, which until mid-July was known as Tēvzemes nacionālo spēku savienība.
• Pēdējā partija, a group that does not expect to see its candidates elected, but wants to generate discussion about political issues.

The commission will meet Aug. 4 to certify the candidate lists of Kristīgi Demokrātiskā Savienība, Daugava-Latvijai and Pēdējā partija. The other 10 lists have already been certified.

Six parties fielded 115 candidates, the maximum allowed. Pēdējā partija fielded just 38, the smallest number of candidates.

According to election commission statistics, of the total 1,239 candidates, 888 (71.7 percent) are men. Nearly 80 percent of candidates have a college education. The youngest candidate is 21 years old, but the oldest is 86.

Nearly 73 percent of the candidates are ethnic Latvians, while 8.7 percent are ethnic Russians. Other ethnicities represented are Armenian, Belarussian, Estonian, German, Jewish, Karelian, Lebanese, Lithuania, Liv, Moldovan, Polish, Roma, Ukrainian, Uzbek. A total of 14.3 percent of candidates did not report their ethnicity.

Seven candidates have dual citizenship: four American, one Australian, one Canadian and Venezuelan, and one Swedish.

Latvian BMX cyclist Māris Štrombergs, who won a gold medal in the Beijing Olympics, has reclaimed his title as world champion in the sport.

Štrombergs finished nearly a half-second ahead of local favorite Sifiso Nhlapo in the July 31 final of the elite men’s BMX competition of the UCI BMX World Championships, which were held at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Štrombergs last held the title of world champion in 2008, the same year he won in the Olympics.

The 23-year-old Štrombergs finished the 385-meter course in a time of 38.391 seconds, according to results reported by the Union Cycliste International (UCI). Silver medalist Nhlapo was 0.487 seconds behind Štrombergs. The bronze medal went to Joris Daudet of France.

Latvian President Valdis Zatlers sent a congratulatory note to Štrombergs.

“The work you have invested, your great willpower and talent have allowed you the reach new heights in the BMX sport,” Zatlers told the cyclist, according to the president’s press office. “Thank you for letting the world know about Latvia through your outstanding performance and great victories.”

For his victory, Štrombergs will receive a cash prize of EUR 4,000 from the UCI.

Another Latvian, Kristers Lējiņš earned the silver medal in the junior men’s competition. He finished the course 1.012 seconds behind gold medal winner Sylvain Andre of France, who crossed the finish line in a time of 38.822 second.

Latvian cyclist Taims Kristers finished seventh out of the eight finalists competing in the junior men’s contest.