In Belarus, the amount of child birth benefits has increased by 31.1% over the year.

May 28, Minsk /BELTA correspondent/. The amount of child birth benefits in Belarus has increased by 31.1% over the year, as reported to BELTA by Olga Klavsut, press secretary of the National Statistical Committee.

Child protection, family, and motherhood are among the priority areas of the state and society's social policy in Belarus.

In order to implement the National Program for Demographic Security of the Republic of Belarus for 2011-2015, the state pays great attention to increasing the birth rate and strengthening socio-economic support for families in connection with the birth and upbringing of children.

As a result, the amount of the lump-sum benefit in May of the current year has increased to Br9 million 741.1 thousand for the birth of the first child, and Br13 million 637.5 thousand for the birth of the second and subsequent children. The amount of child birth benefits has increased by 31.1% compared to May 2012. In May of this year, the amount of the monthly childcare benefit for a child under three years of age was Br1 million 585.9 thousand for the first child, Br1 million 812.4 thousand for the second and subsequent children, and Br2 million 39 thousand for a child with a disability. The amount of benefit for a child with a disability over three years of age was Br681.9 thousand, and for other children in the family - Br487.1 thousand.

As previously reported by BELTA, the number of children under 18 years of age in the republic as of January 1 of the current year was 1 million 741.8 thousand people, or 18.4% of the total population. At the same time, 76.5% of all children live in cities and urban settlements, and 23.5% live in rural settlements.

Last year, 115.9 thousand children were born in the republic, including 59.7 thousand boys and 56.2 thousand girls. The birth rate increased from 9.4 per 1,000 population in 2005 to 12.2 in 2012. Half of the newborns (58.7 thousand children) were firstborns. An increase in the number of subsequent births has been observed since 2005. In 2012, second and third births accounted for 46.3% (in 2005 - 38.5%).

The statistical review has been prepared for International Children's Day. This is one of the oldest international holidays; a decision to hold it was made in 1925 in Geneva at the World Conference for the Well-being of Children.-0-