Population change - 2nd half of 2006

The population of the Czech Republic increased by 17.5 thousand in the 1st half-year and as of 30 June stood at 10 268 607. The population increase resulted mainly from the positive net migration amounting to 16.9 thousand. According to the preliminary data the natural increase was registered as well (0.7 thousand), for the first time since 1993. The number of live births in the period of Jan-June 2006 stood at 52.2 thousand, which was the number by 1.0 thousand higher as against the same period of 2005. On the contrary, the number of deaths and marriages was significantly lower (by 4.5 or 1.4 thousand).
According to the results of preliminary statistical balance the population of the Czech Republic stood at 10 268 607 as of 30 June 2006. The population increased by 17.5 thousand in the 1st half-year. This growth resulted mainly from the positive net migration amounting to 16.9 thousand (in the 1st half-year of 2005, the net migration reached 18.3 thousand), when both the number of immigrants and emigrants increased. The highest net migration was traditionally reached by the citizens of Ukraine (6.1 thousand), Slovak Republic (3.2 thousand), Viet Nam (2.1 thousand) and Russian Federation (0.8 thousand). The population also rose due to natural increase, by 0.7 thousand, in the 1st half-year of 2006. The positive difference between the numbers of live births and deaths in the 1st half-year was registered for the last time in 1993.

The number of live births in the period of Jan-June 2006 was by 959 higher as against the period of Jan-June 2005, and stood at 52.2 thousand. The increase of the number of live births decelerated, the growth by 2.3 thousand was registered between the same periods of 2004 and 2005. This year, the average number of live births born to a woman during her childbearing age rose only slightly, and reached a value a little above 1.3 (1.28 in 2005). Women aged 28-30 (born in 1975-78) show the highest fertility intensity at present. There were registered 17.2 thousand of live births born outside marriage in the first six months of 2006, which represents 32.9% all live births. This share stood at 31.1% in the first six months of 2005.

There were registered 51.6 thousand deaths in the 1st half-year of 2006, i.e. by 4.5 thousand less than in the same period of 2005. The lower number of deceased persons in the 1st quarter of this year mainly causes this difference. The infant mortality stayed at very low level, the level of 3.3 deaths within 1 year of age per 1 000 live births was registered in the period of Jan-June 2006. The neonatal mortality rate (mortality under the age of 28 days) stood at 2.3‰.

The number of marriages has continued decreasing in the 2nd quarter 2006: the difference between 1st quarters of 2005 and 2006 was 906 ‘in favour of’ 2005, the difference between 2nd quarters was already lower – 456, but, in total, it means the lower number of marriages in the first half-year of 2006 by 1.4 thousand as against the number in the same period a year ago. The popularity of entering into marriage stayed low. There were registered 16.4 thousand divorces in the first six months of this year, which was the number almost identical with the number registered in the first six months of 2005. The intensity of divorce rate in the Czech Republic has been keeping the level at around fifty percent for last few years.

The total number of abortions in the 1st half-year of stopped decreasing, and was by 76 higher as against 1st half-year of 2005. However, the drop of the number of legally induced abortions continued and the number by 349 lower than in the same period of 2005 was registered. But the number of miscarriages increased, by 443. 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 Kretschmerová, phone: (+420) 274054063, e-mail: terezie.kretschmerova@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-June 2006 are preliminary.

Related publications:
4001-06 Population of the Czech Republic in January-June 2006
4001-05 Population of the Czech Republic in January-June 2005
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