Population change - 1st - 3rd quarter of 2006

The population of the Czech Republic increased by 29.9 thousand in the 1st- 3rd quarter and as of 30 September stood at 10 280 968. The population increase resulted mainly from the positive net migration amounting to 27.1 thousand. The natural increase was registered as well (2.8 thousand). The number of live births in the 1st-3rd quarter was by almost 1.6 thousand higher as against the same period of the previous year. On the contrary, the number of deaths was significantly lower (by 4.3 thousand).


According to the results of the preliminary statistical balance the population of the Czech Republic stood at 10 280 968 as of 30 September 2006. The population increased by 29.9 thousand in the 1st-3rd quarter. This growth resulted from the positive net migration amounting to 27.1 thousand, but the population also rose due to natural increase, by 2.8 thousand . The positive difference between the numbers of live births and deaths in the 1st-3rd quarter was registered for the last time in 1993. Both the increase in fertility and lower number of deceased persons has contributed to this year’s population growth due to natural change. The net migration was even a little higher (28.0 thousand) in the same period of the previous year. The highest value of the net migration was traditionally reached by the citizens of Ukraine (9.8 thousand), Slovak Republic (4.6 thousand) and Viet Nam (3.1 thousand) during the first nine months.

The number of live births in the 1st-3rd quarter was by 1 574 higher as against the same period of 2005, and stood at 80.0 thousand. But the increase in the number of live births decelerated. The rise by 2.7 thousand was registered between the same periods of 2003 and 2004. The number of births in the first nine months of 2005 was even by 3.9 thousand higher than the number registered in the first three quarters of 2004. This year, the average number of live births born to a woman during her childbearing age rose only slightly, and has reached a value a little above 1.3 (1.28 in 2005). There were registered 26.6 thousand of live births born outside marriage in the 1st-3rd quarter of 2006, which represents 33.2% all live births. The proportion of the first children born out of wedlock is even higher – 41.5%. Thus, the share of children born to unmarried women has continued to rise.

There were registered 77.2 thousand deaths in the 1st-3rd quarter, i.e. by 4.3 thousand less than in the same period of 2005. The lower number of deceased persons in the 1st quarter of this year mainly caused this difference. The number of infant deaths stood at 247 (by 20 less than a year ago), of which 178 infants died before reaching the age of 28 days. The infant mortality rate decreased as against the level reached in 2005 at 3.1 infant deaths per thousand live births (it was 3.4 per mille in the 1st-3rd quarter of 2005).

The number of marriages entered into during the period of January-September was by 568 higher than in the same period of last year and stood at 44.2 thousand. In the comparison with the fertility, the pick-up in the nuptiality was less noticeable, so the popularity of entering into marriage still stays low. This situation has a consequence in the above-mentioned rise in the share of children born outside marriage. There were registered 23.6 thousand divorces in the first nine months of this year, which was the number almost identical with the number registered in the first nine months of 2005 . The divorce rate in the Czech republic has stabilized in the last few years and has been keeping the level around fifty percent marriages ultimately terminated by divorce.

In the comparison with the development in the previous years, the total number of abortions in the 1st-3rd quarter of this year dropped less significantly. But the decrease in the number of legally induced abortions has continued: in the first three quarters of 2006, the number of the legally induced abortions was by 815 lower than in the comparable period of 2005. The rise in the number of the miscarriages caused the decelerating of the decrease in the total number of abortions. The higher number of pregnancies in connection to the increasing fertility and the shift in fertility towards later age, where the intensity of spontaneous abortion rate is higher, are the main reasons.

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Note:

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

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 the Alien Information System and the Central Population Register Record. Czech Statistical Office receives data from Alien and Border Police Service and the Ministry of Interior. Abortion data originate from the Institute of Health Information and Statistics.

Since 2001, the figures include (in accordance with the Population and Housing Census 2001) foreigners with long-term stay (i.e., the stay based on visa over 90 days, as stipulated by Act No. 326/1999 Coll.) and foreigners with granted asylum status (in compliance with Act No. 325/1999 Coll.). Since 1st May 2005, in accordance with amendment No. 326/1999 Coll., the figures include citizens of the European Union with temporary stay on the territory of the Czech Republic, and citizens of other countries with long-term stay.

All data for the period of January-September 2006 are preliminary.

Related publications:
4001-06 Population of the Czech Republic in January-September 2006
http://www.czso.cz/eng/edicniplan.nsf/p/4001-06

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