YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia's population made 3 million 238.4 thousand in 2008, growing by 8.3 thousand as compared with early 2008, the Head of the RA National Statistical Service Stepan Mnatsakanian said at the February 20 press conference. According to him, a 2.8% growth in birth rate was recorded in 2008, while the birth rate coefficient made 12.8 ppm per 1,000 residents - against 12.4 ppm in 2007. The mortality coefficinet grew by 0.2 ppm to 8.5 ppm. 15 cases of maternal mortality were recorded in 2008 - against 6 cases in 2007. It was announced that there were 444 cases of infant deaths during the first year of life in 2008 (2.5% growth on 2007), and the infant mortality coefficient made 10.8 ppm - against 10.9 ppm in 2007. S. Mnatsakanian said that in 2008 the number of marriages grew by 1.8% and made 18,465, while the number of divorces grew by 3.4% and made 3,031.

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