Population change - year 2008

Nearly 120 thousands children were born in 2008

The population of the Czech Republic increased by 86.4 thousands to 10,467.5 thousands in 2008. Even though the natural increase was higher than in 2007, population growth was again driven mainly by positive net migration (71.8 thousands). The number of live births was 119.6 thousands in last year, which was by 4.9 thousands more as against the previous year. The average number of births born to 1 woman rose to 1.50. But the level of divorce rate increased too and even it reached the all time high – 49.6% marriages ultimately terminated by divorce.
According to the preliminary statistical balance the population of the Czech Republic stood at 10,467,542 as of 31 December 2008. The population increased by 86.4 thousands in 2008. It was by 7.5 thousands lower compared to the year 2007. The lower population increase in 2008 as against 2007 resulted from lower net migration. However, net migration in 2008 stayed very high in comparison to the previous years – 71.8 thousands (83.9 thousands in 2007, but 35-36 thousands in the years 2005-2006). On the contrary, the natural increase amounting to 14.6 thousands in 2008 was higher than in 2007, by 4.6 thousands. The positive natural increases registered in last three years (which have replaced the period of several-years of natural decrease) resulted from the rise in number of births. When the current wave of higher natality stops (after numerous 1970s cohorts will get over their reproductive life span), the numbers of births will go down.

The number of live births in 2008 was by 4.9 thousands higher than in the previous year and amounted to 119.6 thousands. The last year when more children were born was 1993 (121.0 thousands). Total fertility rate, the indicator, which expresses the average number of live births born to woman during her childbearing age has continued to grow in 2008, to 1.50 children. Although also in the last year the total fertility rate rose significantly, the increase between 2006 and 2007 was even bigger: from 1.33 to 1.44. A trend of postponement of motherhood towards later age has further continued in 2008. The mean age of mothers at first childbirth rose by 0.2 years between 2007 and 2008, to 27.3. By 0.2 increased also the mean age of all mothers (without distinction of birth order). The average age of fathers was 33.0 in 2008 (data based on 90% of live births; for the rest 10% data on fathers not filled out), average age of fathers at birth of a first child was 31.3 . Thus the gap between the mean age of fathers and mothers at birth of a first child was 4 years. A total of 43.5 thousands births were born outside marriage in 2008. The proportion of births born to unmarried women thus rose by 1.8 percent point to 36.3%.

There were registered 104.9 thousands deaths in 2008, i.e. by 312 thousands more than in 2007. The number of infant deaths (children up to 1 year of age) was lower: 338 in the last year as against 360 in the previous year. In association with higher number of births it resulted in further decrease of the already very low level of infant mortality in 2008, which decreased on the level of 2.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births (from 3.1 in 2007). In 2008, the life expectancy at birth increased by 0.3 years to 74.0 years for men and by about a quarter a year to 80.1 for women. The mortality by all three main groups of causes of death – diseases of the circulatory system, neoplasms and injuries and poisonings – decreased; when the mortality by the first mentioned group of causes of death decreased most.

The number of marriages entered into in 2008 (52.5 thousands) was by 4.7 thousands lower than in the previous year but comparable to the annual numbers of marriages registered in other years of the new century (with the exception of 2003). As far as the nuptiality is concerned the year 2007 was especial, mainly due to attractive date 07/07/2007. In 2008, there was also a date, which was more attractive for engaged couples than the others – 08/08/2008. There were 2.2 thousands marriages entered into (but it was 4.4 thousands in 07/07/2007). However, unlike July “magic” day it did not resulted in increase of total annual number of marriages entered into. Although the number of marriages entered into in 2008 only slightly differs from the number registered e.g. in 2006, by taking the size of population of singles into consideration the level of nuptiality was lower in 2008, even the lowest one so far. Provided that age-specific nuptiality rates from 2008 remain unchanged only 66.1% of single women and 59.6 % of men will entered into marriage before reaching the age of 50 . The mean age at first marriage rose again and was 31.4 among men and 28.7 among women in 2008, which was by 0.3, respectively by 0.2 years more than in 2007. After slight increase in 2007, the intensity of nuptiality of divorced turned back on the 2006‘s level, when further marriage enter into 44% of divorced men and women, after nearly 8 years elapsed from divorce on average.

There were registered 31.3 thousands divorces in 2008, which was the number comparable to that in 2007. Total divorce rate amounted to 49.6% in the last year. It has been the highest divorce rate in the Czech Republic so far. The second highest one was registered in 2004 (49.3%). The mean duration of divorced marriages was 12.3 years in 2008, the same as in 2007. But almost one fifth of marriages terminated within 5 years, the second fifth in the interval from 5 to 10 years from marriage formation.

The number of abortions registered in 2008 (41.4 thousands) was by 529 higher than in 2007. Both the number of legally induced abortion (by 346) and miscarriages (by 171) were higher. The trend of the rise in numbers of spontaneous abortions has been noticeable already since 2003 and there is a connection with the increase in the number of pregnancies. However, the development in 2008 confirms that the long-term decrease in number of legally induced abortions has stopped, which already development in 2007 indicated. The average number of induced abortions per a woman at reproductive age has stopped in 2007 as well and has stayed on the level of 0.34 for last three years.

According to the data from the Central Population Register Record of the Ministry of Interior (ISEO) population of the Czech Republic increased by 71.8 thousands in 2008 due to registered external migration. The net migration registered in last year was lower by 12.2 thousands as against 2007, when both number of immigrants (77.8, respectively 104.4 thousands) and emigrants (6.0, respectively 20.5 thousands) were lower. Also in 2008, the highest net migration was reached with citizens of Ukraine (18.6 thousands). The second position took citizens of Vietnam (13.3 thousands) and the third position belonged to the Slovaks (7.0 thousands). According to the data from Alien and Border Police there were 438.3 thousands foreigners living legally in the Czech Republic as of 31 December 2008 that represent 4.2% of population of the Czech Republic. The biggest group of foreigners represent citizens of Ukraine (132.0 thousands; 30.1% of total number of foreigners) and Slovak Republic (76.0 thousands; 17.3%) followed by citizens of Vietnam (60.3 thousands persons; 13.7%), Russia (27.2 thousands; 6.2%) and Poland (21.7 thousands; 5.0%).

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Notes:
Contact person: Terezie Štyglerová, phone: (+420) 274054063, e-mail: terezie.styglerova@czso.cz
Data sources: Demographic statistics – results of processing statistical reports of Obyv series (notifications of the entry into marriage, of birth, of death, of divorce).
Migration data – Central Population Register Record (Ministry of Interior). Up to 2007 the data source was Alien Information System (Alien and Border Police Service).
Abortions – Institute of Health Information and Statistics.
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 citizens of the European Union with temporary stay on the territory of the Czech Republic, and citizens of other countries with long-term stay. The data contain also information on events (marriages, births and deaths) of permanent residents of the Czech Republic that occurred abroad.
All results for 2008 are preliminary.
Related publications: 4001-08 Population of the Czech Republic in 2008
4001-07 Population of the Czech Republic in 2007

Published: 13.03.2009
The data are valid as of the release date of the publication.