The demographic picture for Armenia seems to heading in the wrong direction if the numbers recently issued by the National Statistical Service (NSS) are to be taken at face value.

Take the number of births for example. In the first half of 2015, 18, 719 births were recorded – down 2.8% when compared to the 19,249 births recorded in the same period in 2014.

The number of marriages has also dropped so far this year in total numbers – down 10.3% from2014.

Suicides are up 23%in the first half of 2015 when compared with the same period in 2014 (397 in 2015, 323 in 2014).

The NSS reports that 40% of those who committed suicide, or attempted to, were aged 30 to 65.

50% of those who committed suicide and 65% who attempted to take their own life were unemployed.

The prevailing assumption is that the drop in births and marriages, and the rise in suicides, is linked to the socio-economic condition in Armenia.

Transfer payments from Russia, a source of income for many in Armenia, dropped substantially in late 2014. The Armenian Dram also lost ground to the US$ - 20% in December 2014.

Prepared by Union of Informed Citizens