MARIJAMPOLE COUNTY - Population
The county of Marijampole is one of the smallest in the country. Its population numbered 187 607 at the beginning of 2003, or 5.4 % of the total population in Lithuania. The share of the population residing in towns is quite small, as half of the county?s population still live in its 1 500 rural settlements. The other half lives in Marijampole?s nine towns. The population density is 42 people per km2. Women account for 52.3% of the county?s population, with 1 097 women per 1000 men.
The county?s population remained almost unchanged over the period 1993-2002. The majority of people living in the county are of Lithuanian nationality.
The birth rate, at 10.0 per 1 000 resident persons, is the highest in Lithuania and it is above the national average (8.6). Children born out of marriage make up 27 % of the total number born. The number of marriages almost halved in the period from 1990 to 2002, although the divorce rate is slightly less than the national average in 2002.
A higher than average mortality rate has been noted in Marijampole county for some time. It was only in 1995 that the mortality rate showed any decline over the rate in recent years, and its high level is mainly attributable to diseases such as malignant neoplasm and diseases of the circulatory system.
The infant mortality rate was the same as the national average in 2002.
Population aged 65 and over account for 21,0%, while 56,1% are of working age and 22,9% are under working age. For every 100 children (0-18 years) there are 79 people over 60, and in some villages there are actually more old people than children. At the beginning of 2003 there were 762 dependants per 1 000 in the population of working age, of whom half were of pensionable age.
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