The Ongoing Transformation of Family and Reproductive Behaviour in Bratislava and Its Hinterland

Branislav Šprocha
Demografie, 67(4): 183–205
https://doi.org/10.54694/dem.0370

Abstract
The transformation of family and reproductive behaviour in Slovakia has significantly impacted not only the population of the largest cities since the 1990s and has also gradually given rise to key changes in smaller towns and rural municipalities, regardless of their size or region. Notable changes include a significant decrease in the rates of marriage and motherhood, an increase in the divorce rate, a tendency to marry and become parents at older ages, and a growing proportion of children born out of wedlock. These trends represent the new model of family and reproductive behaviour in urban areas and their suburbs. However, a comprehensive analysis of these changes over time, with a primary focus on the differences between Slovakia's largest city and its suburbs, has not been extensively developed. Although these trends have been observed in both urban and suburban populations, can we assume that there are differences in the dynamics of these trends and the extent of their spread as well as contrasting behaviours between the largest city and its suburb. Or, given the advanced stage of transformation, are we witnessing convergence in the intensity and timing of family and reproductive behaviours, suggesting that urban and suburban populations are becoming more alike. We aim to address these questions through a detailed analysis of key indicators related to fertility, marriage, and divorce. This study examines the characteristic features of family and reproductive behaviour among the populations of the largest city in Slovakia and its suburban area from the mid-1990s to 2023. The results will help identify potential differences and their development over time.

Keywords
Bratislava city, hinterland, fertility, marriage, divorce rate, mean age at first marriage, mean age at birth of first child, share of extramarital births