Latvia’s population continued to decline last year, but at a slower pace than in 2006, according to the Central Statistical Bureau in Rīga. Marriages and divorces increased in 2007. Deaths, while registering a slight drop over 2006, nonetheless continued to outpace births.

The country’s population at the start of 2008 stood at 2.271 million, according to demographic data released May 6. The figure represented a .46 percent drop from the population at the start of 2007, when the number of people living in Latvia was 2.281 million.

At the beginning of 2006, Latvia’s population was about 2.294 million.

The continued slide in the population is the result of negative natural growth and of emigration, according to the bureau.

A total of 23,273 births were recorded in Latvia last year, a 4.5 percent increase over 2006. The fertility rate, which last year stood at 1.42 children per woman, has in general continued to increase over the past several years, but the statistical bureau noted that the rate would have to be at least 2.1 to ensure an exchange of generations.

Meanwhile, deaths last year totaled 33,042, a decrease of 56 compared to 2006.

A total 4,183 Latvian residents in 2007 emigrated to other countries, while 3,541 persons immigrated to the Latvia.

Marriages continued to gain. A total of 15,486 couples tied the knot last year, a 6 percent gain over 2006. But divorces, totaling of 7,403, also saw an increase—2.1 percent. Latvians are waiting longer to get married, too. The average age of a man at the time of his first marriage was 28.5 last year, compared to 26.9 at the beginning of the 21st century. For women, the average age last year was 26.4, compared to 24.9 in 2000.

Data for the first three months of this year suggest the birth and death trends will continue through 2008, according to the statistical bureau.

With just two days left in a citizen initiative to compel the Latvian parliament to boost state pensions, it appears the required number of signatures have been gathered, according to the Central Election Commission in Rīga.

A total of 149,064 signatures, or 10 percent of the total number of voters in the last parliamentary election, need to be gathered in the drive that began April 16 and which is scheduled to end May 15. By May 13, 140,297 citizens had signed onto the initiative, while another 12,161 signed the initial petition in favor of the initiative, bringing the total to 152,458, the Central Election Commission announced, citing provisional data.

That means proposed legislation amending the state pension law most likely will be submitted to the Saeima for its approval. If the Saeima does not accept the proposed legislation, a national referendum must be called on the issue.

This would be the second proposed law to go before the parliament this year under new procedures that allow citizen initiative in Latvia. Last month, the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia (Latvijas Brīvo arodbiedrību savienība) successfully concluded an initiative to get lawmakers to consider a constitutional amendment allowing citizens to initiate a recall of the parliament. The amendments are now under consideration by Saeima commissions.

Changes to the pension law are proposed by the Pensioners and Seniors Party (Pensionaru un senioru partija) and by the Association for a Different Politics and a Judicial State (Sabiedriba citai politikai un tiesiskai valstij). They seek an increase in the minimum monthly state pension to no less than three times the state welfare payment.

A total of 622 locations in Latvia have been open for citizens to sign on to the initiative. Outside of Latvia, citizens may visit one of 43 embassies, consulates general and consulates. In the United States and Canada, the Latvian embassies each organized an additional day for the signature drive in Rockville, Md., and in Toronto.

Data on the number of signatures gathered on the pension law initiative at locations outside of Latvia have not yet been furnished by the Central Election Commission.

Information on locations where the initiative may be signed is available from the Central Election Commission online at www.cvk.lv. To be able to sign the initiative, citizens must be at least 18 years old, must possess a valid Latvian passport and must appear in person.