In 2003, there were 11.3 newborns per thousand residents of the region, the main statistics administration in the region reported. This is one-third more than the average in Ukraine. This indicator is higher only in Rivne and Zakarpattia regions.\nAbout 12 thousand children are born in the region every year. In recent years, Volyn has consistently ranked third in the state in terms of birth rate.\nAmong those born last year, almost half are firstborns, 3.9 thousand are children who appeared second. Another 2.2 thousand babies were born to mothers with many children. In particular, last year 65 cases of the birth of a seventh child, 38 of an eighth, 25 of a ninth, and 33 of a tenth and more child were registered in the region. Practically every second infant is born to 20-24-year-old mothers. Women aged 25-29 account for 28 percent of newborns, and those over 30 account for 19 percent. The youngest mothers (under 20) gave birth to 1.3 thousand children last year. Overall, the average age of Volyn women giving birth is 25.\nNine out of every ten babies who are born grow up and are raised in two-parent families. However, every eleventh infant is born to single mothers or to parents whose marriage is not registered.