The population of the Czech Republic increased by 4.7 thousand to 10 558.5 thousand during the first three months of 2016. The increase resulted from the positive net migration (5.5 thousand) only; the natural change was negative (-0.9 thousand). In the year-on-year comparison the number of live births (27.1 thousand) slightly increased, the number of deaths (28.0 thousand) decreased as well as the number of marriages and divorces.

According to the preliminary statistical balance the population of the Czech Republic increased by 4.7 thousand to 10 558.5 thousand from 1 January to 31 March 2016. The whole population growth was a result of a positive balance of net migration amounted to 5.5 thousand. Despite a significant decline in the number of deaths the population lose 859 inhabitants by a natural change.

In the first quarter of 2016, according to the preliminary data, there were a total of 27.1 thousand live births, which was by 0.3 thousand more than in the same period a year before. The most children were born to women at the age of 31 and in the case of first born children they were women at the age of 29. In the year-on-year comparison only the number of live births outside marriage increased (+653). Their share out of the total live births increased to 49.2% while it was 47.8% in the whole year 2015.

During the first quarter of 2016 the number of deaths stood at 28.0 thousand, by 3.6 thousand lower than in the same period of previous year. But, the number of deceased people in the first quarter of 2015 was the highest number per a quarter since 1996. The average age of deceased persons was 75.6 years (72.2 for men, 79.1 for women) in 2016. Nearly 45% of deceased (12.5 thousand) were older than 80 and 44% (12.2 thousand) were aged between 60 and 80. The number of infant deaths was 75 in the first quarter of 2016. In the comparison to the whole year 2015 the infant mortality rate increased from 2.5 to 2.8‰.

A total of 3.3 thousand of marriages were entered into in the first three months of 2016; it was by 0.4 thousand less than in the same period of 2015. A total of 2.1 thousand men and 2.0 thousand women entered into their first marriage. The grooms were aged 32.9 years on average and the brides 30.1 years. At remarriages the grooms were aged 50.0 years on average and the brides 45.2 years.

The Czech courts issued 6.3 thousand decisions about divorces in the first quarter of 2016, alike in 2015. Classified to five-year duration groups, the highest number of divorces was noticed after 5-9 years of marriage and the average duration of marriage at divorce was 14.8 years. A total of 3.7 thousand divorces (58.5%) terminated marriages with minors. A total of 5.7 thousand children were affected.

According to the preliminary data there were 10.5 thousand people immigrated to the Czech Republic from abroad and 5.0 thousand people emigrated from the Czech Republic in the first quarter 2016. The net migration was positive at the level of 5.5 thousand and it was by 1.2 thousand higher than in the first quarter in 2015. The highest net migration was registered with citizens of Slovakia (1.4 thousand) and Ukraine (0.7 thousand), who dominated in the immigration flow. The third highest migration balance belonged to citizens of Romania (0.3 thousand) and the citizens of Vietnam took the fourth place (0.3 thousand). The net migration of the Czechs remained positive (+17), but they formed the largest group among the emigrants.

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Notes:
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 also citizens of the European Union with temporary stay on the territory of the Czech Republic, and Third countries citizens with long-term residence permit. The data also contain information on events (marriages, births and deaths) of permanent residents of the Czech Republic that occurred abroad.
All data for 2016 are preliminary.
Data on abortions in the first quarter of 2016 are not included due to incomplete data set provided by the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the CR.
Responsible manager: Josef Škrabal, director of Population Statistics Department,
tel. +420 274 052 189, e-mail: josef.skrabal@czso.cz
Contact person: Michaela Němečková, Demographic Statistics Unit,
tel. +420 274 052 184, e-mail: michaela.nemeckova@czso.cz
Data source: Demographic statistics – results of processing statistical reports of Obyv series
Divorces – Information system of the Ministry of the Justice of the CR
Migration data – Information System of Inhabitants Records (Ministry of the Interior of the CR) and Alien Information System (Directorate of Alien Police)
Abortions – Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the CR
End of data collection: 18 May 2016
Related publication: 130062-16 Population of the Czech Republic – 1^st quarter of 2016
https://www.czso.cz/current-product/41180
Next News Release: 12 September 2016