According to the State Statistical Office data, in the Republic of North Macedonia, the number of live births in urban areas was 11 224,
which represents 60.2% of the total number of live births, in comparison with 7 424 live births or 39.8% in rural areas. By regions, Skopje
had the highest share of total live births, 38.9%, while the East Region had the smallest share, 6.3%.
The average age of mothers for all live births was 29.9 years in urban areas and 28.4 in rural areas. The average age of mothers at first
birth was 28.3 years in urban areas and 26.0 years in rural areas. Mothers from rural areas were 2.3 years younger at first birth than
mothers from urban areas.
The number of deaths in urban areas was 17 955, which represents 63.0% of the total numbers of deaths in comparison with 10 561
or 37.0% in rural areas. By regions, Skopje had the largest share of the total number of deaths, 30.6%, while the Vardar Region had the
smallest share, 8.3%. There were 54 infant deaths in urban areas and 31 in rural areas.
The average age of death was 73.2 years in urban areas and 73.3 years in rural areas.
The natural increase was negative, -6 731 persons in urban areas and -3 137 persons in rural areas.
The data on internal migration at the regional level show that the dominant form of migration was from urban to rural areas with 37.9%,
whereas inter-urban migration accounted for 9.4%.
Urban-rural migration at the regional level was highest in the ?ast Region with 49.2%, while inter-rural migration in the Polog Region
made up 52.2% of the total migration in the region.
The external net migration was highest in the Skopje Region (1 296), while lowest in the Southeast Region (-51).