The population of the Czech Republic increased by 7.8 thousand to 10 546.1 thousand in the first three quarters of 2015, however only due to positive net migration (8.5 thousand) while natural change was negative (-0.6 thousand). The number of live births (83.6 thousand) remained unchanged in the year-on-year comparison; on the other hand the number of deaths (84.3 thousand) was significantly higher this year. The number of marriages (40.9 thousand) slightly increased, for the number of divorces (19.2 thousand) and abortions (26.8 thousand) it was the contrary.

According to the preliminary statistical balance the population of the Czech Republic increased by 7.8 thousand to 10 546.1 thousand from 1 January to 30 September this year. Population growth resulted from positive migration balance which amounted to 8.5 thousand; the natural change reduced it by 628 when the number of deaths exceeded the number of live births.

During the period of January-September 2015, according to the preliminary data there were a total of 83.6 thousand live births, alike in 2014. But, the number as well as the share of live births outside marriage continued to rise: the absolute figure increased by 1.1 thousand to 39.9 thousand in the year-on-year comparison and the share of live births outside marriage was 47.7% this year while it was 46.4% in the same period a year before. The proportion of unmarried women among mothers was the highest in case of the first born children (58.2%) and the lowest was for children born in the second order (37.1%). The average age of women at childbirth (regardless birth order) was 30.7 year. The most children were born to women at the age of 30; in case of the first born children it was at the age of 28. According to the preliminary data the total fertility rate should be slightly higher in 2015 than in 2014. It was in 2014 when the total fertility rate exceeded the level of 1.5 children per woman (i. e. left the fertility level under 1.5, which is considered to be low) for the first time after 20-year-period.

The number of deaths is significantly higher this year than in 2014, mostly thanks to the mortality situation in the first quarter. According to the preliminary data a total of 84.3 thousand deaths were registered during the first three quarters of 2015, in the year-on-year comparison by 6.2 thousand (by 8%) more. The higher number of deaths was a cause of natural decrease registered for the 1st – 3rd quarter this year. The most significant increase in the number of deceased was in the age group of 80 years and over (by 12% to 38.9 thousand). The average age of deceased man was 72.2 year and 79.5 year for woman. The number of deaths of children aged less than one year was 206, by 2 higher than in the same period in 2014. Infant mortality rate was 25 out of 10,000 live births.

According to the preliminary data, during the first three quarters in 2015 a total of 40.9 thousand marriages were entered into; it was by 0.7 thousand more than in the same period in 2014. In the y-o-y comparison the number of marriages was significantly higher in May and July, slightly in September.  As in 2014, the highest number of weddings was held in August (8.6 thousand) and June (8.3 thousand). Three quarters of grooms and brides entered into their first marriage. The average age of single groom was 31.9 year and the average age of single bride was 29.2 year.

The Czech courts issued 19.2 thousand decisions about divorces from January up to the end of September 2015. It was by 0.6 thousand fewer than a year ago. The most often (almost in half of cases) the petitioner of divorce was a woman. The share of joint petitions was 30%. One fifth of men and women divorced for the second or higher time. The average age of divorced men was 43.9 year and 41.0 year for women. A total of 8.1 thousand divorces (42.2%) terminated marriages without minors. The other 11.1 thousand divorces concerned 17.2 thousand minors. The highest number of divorced marriages was noticed in the seventh year of marriage duration.

According to the preliminary data a total of 26.8 thousand abortions were registered during the first three quarters of 2015, by 1.3 thousand fewer than in the year 2014. The number of induced abortions decreased by 1.5 thousand to 15.3 thousand, the number of spontaneous abortions was 10.5 thousand, in the year-on-year comparison by 0.1 thousand more. Besides that, 1.0 thousand cases of termination of ectopic pregnancy were registered. Induced abortions comprised 57.1% of the total abortions. One quarter of induced abortions were performed to single childless women. Single women newly prevailed at spontaneous abortion too.

According to the preliminary data 25.6 thousand people immigrated to the Czech Republic from abroad during the period January-September 2015; it was by 5.1 thousand fewer than in the same period in 2014. On the contrary, in the year-on-year comparison the number of emigrants (17.1 thousand) was higher (by 1.3 thousand). The net migration was positive and amounted to 8.5 thousand, although by 6.4 thousand lower than in the same period in 2014.The immigrants were mostly the citizens of Slovakia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic. The most frequent emigrants were citizens of Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Russia. The highest migration balance was (as in 2014) registered with citizens of Slovakia (3.9 thousand). The second highest net migration belonged to the citizens of Romania (0.8 thousand); the citizens of Germany (0.7 thousand) ranked the third place for now this year.

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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 2015 are preliminary.
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: 19 November 2015
Related publication: 130062-15 Population of the Czech Republic – 1st - 3rd quarter of 2015
https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/population-of-the-czech-republic-3-quarter-of-2015
Next News Release: 21 March 2016