Population change - 1. quarter of 2005

The population of the Czech Republic increased by 3.1 thousand in the 1st quarter of 2005 and as of 31 March stood at 10 223 713. The number of live births was by 724 higher in comparison to 1st quarter of 2004, but the most significant difference showed the number of divorces, which was by 1 136 lower than in the corresponding period of the previous year. The number of marriages entered into was by 225 smaller, so the nuptiality still stagnates on the very low level.

According to the results of the preliminary statistical balance the population of the Czech republic as of 31 March 2005 stood at almost 10 224 thousand, which was by 18 thousands more than a year ago and by 3 thousands more than three months ago. The natural decrease in the 1st quarter of 2005 was almost the same as in the 1st quarter of 2004: the number of deaths exceeded the number of live births by 5 thousand. Since the population decreased by natural decrease the rise in total population resulted only from active balance of international migration. The number of immigrants (11.7 thousand) was similar to the number in the 1st quarter of 2004, whereas the number of emigrants decreased from 12 thousand registered in the first three months of 2004 on 4 thousand registered in the same period of 2005.

The number of live births in the 1st quarter of 2005 was by 724 higher compared to 1st quarter of 2004. As long as this trend continues for the rest of the year, the number of live births in 2005 will exceed the level of one hundred thousands, again after ten years. But the considerable increase of the total fertility rate (the average number of live births per woman at her childbearing age) cannot be expected because in the age of the highest fertility intensity (27-30 years of age) are still the women born in the seventies (1975-1978), in the years of the significant birth rate rise. The fertility of Czech women remains low from the long-term and international comparison view. There were 31.4 per cent of all live births born outside marriage in the 1st quarter of 2005. It was 30.2 per cent in the 1st quarter of 2004 and 30.6 percent in 2004. Thus, the uninterrupted trend, started in 1988, of the increase of the share of children born to non-married women continues in 2005.

The number of deaths in the 1st quarter of 2005 stood at 29.2 thousand, which was by 664 more than in the corresponding period of 2004. After three years long stagnation, the life expectancy at birth for both sexes rose by a half of year in 2004. But the first preliminary data for 2005 showed that the significant growth probably would not be repeated this year. Contrary to the number of all deaths, the number of infant deaths and the level of infant mortality in the period January-March of 2005 were by a little lower than in the first three months of 2004. The infant mortality rate stood at 3.4 infant deaths per 1 000 live births; it was 3.9 per mille in the 1st quarter of 2004 (3.7 per mille in 2004).

The number of marriages entered into during the period January-March of 2005 was only by 225 lower than in the same period of 2004. But the first quarter of the year is the least attractive time for entering into marriage (11 per cent of total number in 2004); larger differences in the nuptiality might occur in the next months. Most likely, the stagnation on the very low level will continue. There were registered 7.9 thousand of divorces in the 1st quarter of 2005. This number was by more than one thousand lower than in the 1st quarter of the previous year. The numbers of divorces significantly depend on the number of marriages entered into in the previous years. The highest intensity of divorce rate occur after 3-6 years of duration of marriage, which means that the marriages entered into in the period of 1999-2002 will be the least stable in 2005, and the average number of marriages entered into in that period was by a little lower than in the first half of the nineties. However, the estimate of intensity indicator indicates the chance that the divorce rate could stop rising and the stabilisation on the level close to 50 per cent marriage terminating by divorce is expected. The divorce rate in the Czech Republic is high and during the last 15 years rose by one third.

The favourable trend in abortion rate continued also in the 1st quarter of 2005. The total number of abortions dropped by 0.5 thousand (on 10.2 thousand) compared to the 1st quarter of 2004. The legally induced abortions accounted for two thirds of the total number of abortions. Almost eighty per cent of legally induced abortions are abortions performed within 8 weeks of duration of the pregnancy.

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Note

Data source: Demographic statistics – results of processing statistical reports of Obyv series (notifications of the entry into marriage, of birth, of death, of divorce); the migration data source is Alien Information System and the Central Population Register Record. Czech Statistical office receives data from Alien and Border Police Service and Ministry of Interior. Abortion data source is Institute of Health Information and Statistics.

All data for 2005 are preliminary.

Related publications:

4001-05 Population of the Czech Republic in January-March 2005

4001-04 Population of the Czech Republic in January-March 2004

4003-05 Age Distribution of the Population of the Czech Republic 2004

4002-05 Life tables: Czech Republic 2004, Regions 2003-2004

Contact: Terezie Štyglerová, phone: (+420) 274054063, e-mail: terezie.styglerova@csu.gov.cz