Population change - 1st - 3rd quarter of 2008

The population of the Czech Republic increased by 65.0 thousands in the 1st- 3rd quarter and as of 30 September stood at 10,446,157. The population growth resulted from both the positive net migration (51.4 thousands) and natural increase (13.6 thousands). The number of live births in the 1st- 3rd quarter was by 4.9 thousands higher as against the same period of the previous year, whereas the number of marriages was by 4.0 thousands lower. The numbers of divorces, abortions and deaths were comparable to the 1st- 3rd quarter of 2007.
According to the results of the preliminary statistical balance the population of the Czech Republic stood at 10,446,157 as of 30 September 2008. The population increased by 65.0 thousands in the 1st-3rd quarter, which was by 5.1 thousands higher compared to the same period of the previous year. Even though population increase was again driven mainly by net migration, also the natural increase was no small. It amounted to 13.6 thousands, which was by 4.8 thousands higher than a year ago. In 2007 the highest natural increase in the last 25 years was registered.

The number of live births in the 1st -3rd quarter was by 4.9 thousands higher than in the 1st - 3rd quarter of the previous year and amounted to 91.3 thousands. But this increase was lower than that between same periods of 2006 and 2007 (when the inter-year growth was 6.3 thousands). The rise in the number of live births registered since 2002 thus has slightly slowed down. The average number of live births born to woman during her childbearing age has continued to grow, at the level of 1.53 (1.49 in 2007). Women gave a birth, on average, at the age of 29.3 (at 29.1 in 2007). A total of 32.8 thousands births were born outside marriage in the 1st - 3rd quarter 2008; the proportion of births born to unmarried women thus rose to 35.9%.

In the 1st - 3rd quarter of 2008 a total of 77.7 thousands persons died. It was 77.6 thousands in the same period of the previous year. The insignificant difference was in the number of infant deaths too: in the first nine months of this year a total of 261 infant deaths were registered, a year ago it was 264. In association with higher number of births it resulted in further decrease of the already very low level of infant mortality in 2008. The mortality of infants aged less than 1 year decreased at the level of 2.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in the 1st - 3rd quarter of 2008. A total of 38.8 thousands males and females died of circulatory system disease in the 1st - 3rd quarter 2008, of which 8.7 thousands died of cerebrovascular disease, myocardial infarction caused 5.0 thousands deaths. Malignant neoplasms caused 20.4 thousands deaths; external causes (it means transport accidents, falls, suicides, violent deaths, poisonings and the like) caused 4.4 thousands deaths.

The number of marriages entered into in the period of January to September was by 4.0 lower than in the comparable period of the last year. A total of 44.7 thousands of marriages were entered into. The year 2007 was attractive for engaged couples mainly due to “magic” date 07/07/2007. This day 4.4 thousands marriages were registered. The nuptiality level in 2008 thus does not differ from the level of recent years, which, unlike fertility is not to rising. So the popularity of entering into marriage still continues to be low and is lower than it was for the previous generations. This situation has a consequence in the above-mentioned rise in the proportion of children born outside marriage.

There were registered 23.4 thousands divorces in the first three quarters of 2008, which was the number very similar to that in the first nine months of 2007 (23.2 thousands). 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. The average age of men who got divorced in 2008 was 40.9, in case of women it was 38.0. The plaintiffs are more often women; by 65% of divorces registered in 1st - 3rd quarter plaintiffs were women.

The number of legally induced abortions performed in January to September (amounting to 19.4 thousands) was by 254 higher than in the last year. The number of legally induced abortions and also the indicator of the average number of legally induced abortions per 1 woman in reproductive age stopped to decline already in 2007, respectively stagnated at the 2006 level. This year’s increase in the absolute number had an impact on the rise in legally induced abortion rate, but the rise was very slight. The abortion rate was decreasing continuously since 1988. The numbers of miscarriages, in connection with the increase in the number of pregnancies, have risen in recent years, but the difference between the numbers in 1st - 3rd quarter of 2007 and 2008 was small (64). Higher number of both legally induced abortions and miscarriages (these types of abortions represent 97% of all abortions) resulted in the rise in total number of abortions: the number of all abortions registered in 1st - 3rd quarter 2008 (amounting to 31.0 thousands) was by 338 higher as against the same period of the previous year.

According to the data from the Central Population Register Record of the Ministry of Interior (ISEO) population of the Czech Republic increased by 51.4 thousands due to external migration. The net migration registered in 1st - 3rd quarter was just very slightly lower (by 226 persons) than in the same period of 2007, but the numbers of immigrants (56.9 vs. 65.4 thousands) and emigrants (5.5 vs. 14.2 thousands) were lower this year. The highest net migration was reached with citizens of Ukraine (13.7 thousands), the second position took citizens of Vietnam (10.2 thousands), who switched the position with Slovaks (5.2 thousands) this year. The migration balance of citizens of the Czech Republic was negative in 1st - 3rd quarter of 2008 (-391 persons).

---

Notes:
Contact person: Terezie Štyglerová, phone: (+420) 274054063, e-mail: terezie.styglerova@csu.gov.cz
Data sources: Demographic statistics – results of processing statistical reports of Obyv series (notifications of the entry into marriage, of birth, of death, of divorce).
Migration data – Central Population Register Record (Ministry of Interior). Up to 2007 the data source was Alien Information System (Alien and Border Police Service).
Abortions – Institute of Health Information and Statistics.
All data refer to the resident population of the Czech Republic, irrespective of citizenship. 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 2004, 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. The data contain also information on events (marriages, births and deaths) of permanent residents of the Czech Republic that occurred abroad.
All results for 2008 are preliminary.
Related publications: 4001-08 Population of the Czech Republic in January – September 2008
4001-07 Population of the Czech Republic in 200