AZE.US
The number of children born outside officially registered marriages in Azerbaijan continues to decline, according to new data released by the Ministry of Justice.
In response to a media inquiry, the ministry reported that 11,558 children were born outside formal marriage in 2025. This translates into an average of 32 births per day.
A Clear Downward Trend
Recent years show a steady decrease:
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2025 – 11,558
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2024 – 13,228
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2023 – 15,622
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2022 – 18,814
Over four years, the figure has fallen by more than 7,000 cases.
What Do the Numbers Indicate?
The decline may reflect several overlapping factors:
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an overall drop in national birth rates;
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changes in marriage patterns;
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migration trends;
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broader socio-economic pressures.
Demographers note that out-of-wedlock birth statistics should be viewed within the wider context of Azerbaijan’s shifting population dynamics. The country has experienced a general slowdown in birth rates in recent years, which may partly explain the reduction.
While the numbers are trending downward, an average of 32 children born outside marriage each day remains socially and demographically significant.