Population change - 1st half of 2008

In the first half of 2008 the population of Czech Republic increased by 43.8 thousands and reached the number of 10 425 thousands. The natural increase (6.8 thousands) rose more markedly but the population increase was still driven by external migration (balance of 37.0 thousands). The number of divorces, abortions and deaths was comparable to the year 2007. The increase in fertility level continues.
According to the results of the preliminary statistical balance the population of the Czech Republic stood at 10 424 926 as at 30 June 2008. During the first half of 2008 the natural increase raised the number of inhabitants by 6.8 thousands (in the 1st half of 2007 only by 3.3 thousands), the net migration was by 30 thousands higher, 37.0 thousands in total. As compared to 31 December 2007 the population of the Czech Republic increased by 43.8 thousands.

The number of live births was 59.3 thousands in the period of January - June 2008, by 3.3 thousands more than in the comparable period of 2007. Total 27.8 thousands live births was first born (46.9 % of all), their mothers were 27.2 years old in average. The mean age of mothers further increased, in comparison with the first half of 2007 it raised by 0.3 to 29.3 years in total. The total fertility rate adjusted for calendar effects was 1.49. The Czech Statistical Office registered the highest fertility by 30-year-old women.

Outside marriage 35.8% of live births was born, 21.3 thousands in total. First born children made more than one half, the share of non-marital live births at first order was 46.1%. In January to June there was stated no information about father for 29.4% of non-marital live births. The proportion of premarital conceptions between first order marital live births was 28.4%.

During the first half of 2008 total 52.5 thousands deaths were registered, comparably with the same period of the last year. Total 50.7% of deaths was caused by a disease of the circulatory system, another 26.0% by neoplasms. Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes accounted for 5.4% of deaths. The structure of deaths by place of death did not change: most people (61%) die at hospitals, 20% at home, 9% in other medical institution and 5% at social welfare facility (retirement home). From January to June 2008 the number of infant deaths was 180, infant mortality rate remains low (3.0‰).

The number of marriages was by 1.1 thousands lower than in the first half of 2007 and it reached 20,963. As usual, the most of them was entered into in June (8.7 thousands weddings according to preliminary data).

The number of divorces stood at 15.8 thousands in the first six months of 2008, which is the same as in the previous year. One fifth came earlier than five years after marriage. Divorces without dependent children heighten their share. From the total number, 9.3 thousands of divorces involved dependent children, whose total number was 13,822 (by three hundred less than in the first half of 2007).

The number of abortions of 20.8 thousands was also similar to that in the first half of the last year. One third of abortions was spontaneous (7.1 ths.), other 13.1 thousands legally induced abortions (62.7 % of all). Remaining 699 abortions were recorded as ectopic pregnancies and others.

According to the data from the Central Population Register Record of the Ministry of Interior (ISEO) the registered external migration added 37.0 thousands inhabitants to the population of the Czech Republic. In comparison with the first half of 2007 the number of immigrants as well as emigrants went down. Total 39.8 thousands people immigrated to the Czech Republic, by 1.2 thousands less than in the same period of 2007. The registered number of emigrants was only 2.8 thousands (from that 1.1 ths. Czech nationals). The highest net migration was reached with citizens of Ukraine (9.7 ths.), Vietnam (8.2 ths.) and Slovakia (3.7 ths.). According to the data from the Ministry of Interior there were 410,094 foreigners living legally in the Czech Republic as of 31 May 2008 (the latest available data), i.e. 3.9 % population of the Czech Republic.

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Notes:
Contact person: Mgr. Michaela Němečková, phone: (+420)274052184, e-mail: michaela.nemeckova@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 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. 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 2008
4001-07 Population of the Czech Republic in 2007