Population change - 1st half of 2024

According to the population balance of the CZSO, the population of Czechia fell from 10.90 to 10.88 million between 1 January and 30 June this year. The population decline resulted from both natural change and net migration. While the decline in natural change was recorded in all months of the first half of the year, the balance of international migration was negative only in March, but significantly (–41.8 thousand). This was related to the high increase in the number of emigrants, which mainly reflected the termination of the stay of persons whose temporary protection expired at the end of March and who did not apply for its prolongation. A total of 62.7 thousand people immigrated to Czechia from abroad in the first half of the year, by 13.8 thousand less year-on-year. The number of emigrants was 70.2 thousand, including 50.5 thousand in March, by 55.2 thousand more than in the first half of 2023.

 
Figure Population change of 1st half of 2023 and 2024

"From January to June this year, the number of live births was 41.6 thousand. This was a year-on-year decrease of 4.5 thousand, or 10%. At the same time, the number of births had been declining with similar intensity in the previous two years", says Michaela Němečková from the Demographic Statistics Unit of the CZSO. The number of births to women aged 25–29 years decreased the most, by 15%, or 1.9 thousand. The decline in births was more profound for first-born children (by 11%) than for children of higher birth order (by 9%). A total of 47.1% of children were born outside marriage.

The number of deaths was 55.5 thousand, which was 1.5 thousand (or 3%) fewer than in the same period last year. Among the deceased, most were men aged 75–79 years and women aged 80–84 years. A total of 18.6 thousand couples entered into marriage, 1.3 thousand (or 7%) fewer than in the first half of 2023. There were fewer marriages year-on-year in all calendar months except April. Most grooms and brides were in the age of 30. According to preliminary data, there were 10.5 divorces. In 57.8% of them, there was at least one minor child at the time of divorce.