Latvia: Total disaster

The statistical yearbook for 2014 has come out in Latvia

Unfortunately the richly illustrated book simply documents the country’s downfall, the national-conservative daily Neatkarīgā complains:

“The figures show a decline on almost every page: a drop in voter turnout, GDP, population statistics and the number of marriages. The number of students per 10,000 inhabitants is falling steadily, and the volume of agricultural production is decreasing. By contrast prices, the average age at which people get married, hospital stays and the number of deaths due to malignant tumours are all on the rise. People with weak nerves should not look at the age pyramid, because after the real estate bubble burst the birthrate decreased more dramatically than during either of the two world wars of the last century. The prospects for the future are dire indeed. All we need to do now is wait for total disaster in the statistical yearbook for 2035.”