Asturias' Birth Rate in 2006 Is the Highest in 17 Years, Although the Lowest in Spain

Source: article by Laura Fonseca in El Comercio, July 4, 2007

More births and fewer deaths, but the same lineup. In 2006 Asturias achieved the highest rate of births in the last 17 years. It hasn't been since 1989 that the principality has enjoyed more than 7.2 births for each thousand citizens. But last year according to the national Institute of statistics there were 7699 births, 217 more van in 2005. However when compared to the rest of the country this number of births does not count as much. Asturias continues to be the community with the least fertility in Spain with 0.98 children per woman, whereas the national median in 2006 with 1.37 children per woman, the highest value since 1991.