Population change - year 2021

Highest fertility in the last 30 years

21.03.2022
Code: 130080-21
 

The population of the Czech Republic increased by 21.9 thousand by the end of the year. The whole increase was ensured entirely by international migration (50.0 thousand). The number of deaths increased significantly for the second time in a row, reaching almost 140,000 persons and exceeding the number of live births (111.8 thousand) by 28.1 thousand.

According to the 2021 Population Census results and the following balance, the population of the Czech Republic was 10.494 million at the beginning of 2021. “At the end of the year, the population was 10.516 million; the total increase reached 21.9 thousand persons. However, the natural change was negative, as there were 28.1 thousand more deaths than live births. This has been the deepest natural decrease in the history of the Czech Republic since its being in 1918. The population growth during 2021 was thus only due to a positive balance of international migration when the number of immigrants exceeded the number of emigrants by 50,000”, says Terezie Štyglerová, the head of the Demographic Statistics Unit.

A total number of 111.8 thousand children were born alive during the year 2021, by 1.6 thousand more than in 2020. “The increase in the number of births in 2021 was thanks to second-born children, who were 5% more year-on-year, a total of 43.6 thousand. There were 51.9 thousand first-born children and, like children of the third or higher-order, they decreased by 1% compared to 2020”, stated Michaela Němečková from the Demographic Statistics Unit. The number of live births was higher in spite of lower number of women at reproductive age, so it was a reflection of the increased fertility rate. According to preliminary results, the total fertility rate reached 1.83 children per woman, the most since 1992. The proportion of children born outside marriage remained unchanged year on year at 48.5%.

The number of deaths reached 139.9 thousand in 2021 and was the highest since World War II.
Compared to the average for 2015–2019, it was a quarter higher, with a significant year-on-year increase for the second time in a row (8% in 2021). The highest number of deceased persons was registered in March (16.8 thousand) and in January (16.2 thousand). According to preliminary results, life expectancy at birth fell further in 2021, to 74.1 years for men and 80.5 years for women. Over the past two years, during the covid-19 pandemic, it has fallen by 2.2 years respectively by 1.6 years.

A total of 46.8 thousand couples entered into marriage, by 1.4 thousand more year-on-year, however, the figure remained lower than in 2015–2019. The lowest monthly number of marriages was recorded in January (0.8 thousand), and contrary to that, the highest number of marriages was in August (8.7 thousand). Three-quarters of the grooms and brides entered into marriage for the first time. In terms of age, most grooms were aged 28–31, and brides were aged 26–30. In more than a tenth of marriages (12.1%), at least one of the groom or bride was a person with non-Czech citizenship.

The number of divorces was 21.1 thousand, by 0.6 thousand less in the year-on-year comparison. The divorce rate fell from 40.6% to 39.7% and was the lowest since the beginning of the century. Three-fifths of divorces involved marriages with minor children. A total of 20.4 thousand minor children lived in families of divorced couples.

The international migration had a positive balance of 50.0 thousand persons, up 23.0 thousand year-on-year and the highest since 2009. A total of 69.2 thousand persons immigrated to the Czech Republic (by 13.5 thousand more year-on-year) and on contrary, the number of emigrants was 19.2 thousand persons (by 9.5 thousand less year-on-year). As in previous years, the highest positive balance was recorded among citizens of Ukraine (28.4 thousand). The second highest was among citizens of Russia (2.7 thousand) and the third among citizens of Slovakia (1.9 thousand).

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Notes:

All data refer to citizens of the Czech Republic and foreigners with permanent residence in the Czech Republic, third-country nationals with temporary residence in the territory of the Czech Republic based on a long-term visa (over 90 days) or a permanent residence permit, nationals of the EU Member States, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and their dependants with notified temporary residence in the territory of the Czech Republic and foreigners with valid asylum status in the Czech Republic. The data contain also information on events (marriages, births, and deaths) of Czech citizens with the permanent residence in the Czech Republic that occurred abroad and were registered by the special registry office in Brno.

All data for 2021 are preliminary and based on Census 2021 results.

Responsible manager: Mgr. Robert Šanda, director of Population Statistics Department, tel. +420 274 052 160, e-mail: robert.sanda@czso.cz
Contact person: Mgr. 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 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)
End of data collection: 8 March 2022
Related publication: 130062-21 Population of the Czech Republic – year 2021
https://www.czso.cz/current-product/41180
Next News Release: 13 June 2022

  •      aoby032122.docx

  • Annex:
  • Table 1 Population and population change (absolute and relative figures, year-to-year changes)
  • Chart 1 Population, quarterly data (numbers)
  • Chart 2 Population change, 1st half-year (numbers)
  • Chart 3 Live births, quarterly data (numbers)
  • Chart 4 Deaths, quarterly data (numbers)
  • Chart 5 Marriages, quarterly data (numbers)
  • Chart 6 Divorces, quarterly data (numbers)
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Published: 21.03.2022
The data are valid as of the release date of the publication.


Contact: Information Services Unit - Headquarters, tel.: +420 274 056 789, email: infoservis@czso.cz