Czech population increases despite significant drop in marriages and births

In the first nine months of 2023, the Czech Republic's population grew slightly despite a sharp drop in births and marriages, according to new data released today by the Czech Statistical Office.

While net migration added 68,000 residents, the birth rate fell more than 10 percent from the same period last year, with live births declining in all age groups under 45. Some 69,200 babies were born between January and September, down 8,600 from 2022. Marriages also dropped significantly, with couples tying the knot at a 14 percent lower rate than the year before.

"During the first three quarters, 41,500 couples got married, a decline of over 14 percent compared to the same period in 2022," said Michaela Němečková of the Czech Statistical Office's Demographic Statistics Unit. The decrease in marriages occurred among both single and divorced individuals at a similar pace.

The national population rose by 54,700 to 10.88 million as of Sept. 30, according to the new statistics. However, the natural increase was negative at -13,300 between January and September this year due to falling births and rising deaths, which decreased by 5,800 or 7 percent. In sum, the number of deaths exceeded births.

Some 116,700 immigrants entered the Czech Republic, while 48,600 left; though the number of emigrants spiked in September as temporary protection visas for Ukrainian refugees expired this month. Going forward, low marriage and birth rates coupled with high mortality rates could hamper population growth despite continued immigration, experts warn.