ULAN BATOR, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The number of newborns in Mongolia saw a significant drop in 2024, local media reported Tuesday, citing data from the National Statistics Office (NSO).

According to the NSO, a total of 60,213 newborns were registered in the country last year, representing a 9.8 percent decrease compared to the previous year.

The statistical agency noted that the number of births in Mongolia has been on the consistent decline since 2019. In 2024, birth rate was recorded at 17 per 1,000 people, while death rate stood at 5.1 per 1,000.

Despite the declining birth rate, Mongolia's population increased 1.2 percent year-on-year, reaching 3.546 million by the end of 2024, the NSO reported.

With a vast land area of 1,564,116 square kilometers, Mongolia remains the most sparsely populated country in the world.