Language
Country/Area
No result found
Mysterious Demographic Change in the Czech Republic: Why Is Its Total Population Growing So Slowly?
The Czech Republic, a small country in Central Europe, is world-famous for its long history and rich culture. However, when it comes to the country's population growth, the challenges cannot be underestimated. According to 2022 data, the total population of the Czech Republic is 10,516,707. Compared with the population of 9.3 million at the beginning of the 20th century, this growth is considerable, but it faces a long-term slowdown.
Low fertility rates and the heavy losses to the population caused by the two world wars in history have become the main reasons for the current slow population growth.
The Czech historical background plays an important role in this issue. During World War I, the total population of the Czech Republic decreased by approximately 350,000. Subsequently, after the end of World War II, due to the expulsion of German residents, the Czech population decreased by approximately 3 million, falling to 8.8 million in 1947. Such historical trauma has had a profound impact on national fertility and national structure.
Although the Czech population increased to 10.33 million in 1994 and then steadily rebounded to 10.2 million in 2005, this growth was not as rapid as expected. The freshest data show that since 2005, most of the Czech population growth has been due to immigration. Since the 2010s, the country's net immigration has been about 300,000, resulting in an increase of one resident every 131 minutes.
The Czech fertility rate remains below the EU average, with one baby born every five minutes and one resident dying at the same time.
The Czech Republic’s total fertility rate continues to be low, which is one of the important reasons for its slow population growth. In 2021, the Czech Republic's total life expectancy is 79.5 years, including 76.55 years for men and 82.61 years for women, ranking 56th in the world respectively. Although this population structure represents a certain development, it also shows the danger of population aging.
In the age structure of the Czech Republic, young people aged 15 to 24 account for only 9.2%, while seniors aged 65 and above account for as high as 20.23%. This aging trend means that the Czech Republic may face greater social and economic challenges in the future.
In this context, the Czech immigration policy has also become an important strategy to increase the population.
In recent years, the Czech Republic has accepted a large number of immigrants from Ukraine and Vietnam. These immigrants have not only increased the Czech labor force, but also injected new vitality into its economic growth. With the increase in immigrants from Vietnam, Ukraine and Slovakia, the ethnic structure of the Czech Republic has become increasingly diverse. According to statistics, the number of foreign residents with legal residence reached 632,570 in 2020, accounting for approximately 5.1% of the total population. This has allowed the Czech immigrant community to play an increasingly important role in society.
The structure of ethnic minorities in the Czech Republic also shows its diversity. Among them, Poles and Germans, as ethnic groups with a long history, still occupy a place in Czech society. According to the 2021 census, about 10% of the Czech population is of Polish ethnicity, but the overall proportion continues to decrease with social development. This reflects the integration and challenges of ethnic minorities in Czech society.
What the Czech Republic faces is not only the problem of low fertility, but also the complexity of cultural integration and social integration.
As for religious beliefs, the situation in the Czech Republic is equally eye-catching. According to the 2021 census, nearly 45.2% of the population chose not to answer the religion question, while 34.2% declared themselves to have no religious affiliation. Such a situation has made the Czech Republic a nominally secular country, and the spread of this culture has affected the overall values of society and the population's willingness to have children.
Looking back at the history of the Czech nation, we can see that the country's development has been affected by multiple factors, including historical, economic, social and other challenges. From changes in demographic structure to the impact of immigration policies, every aspect is affecting the future direction of the Czech Republic.
The Czech Republic’s low fertility rate, aging population, and changing immigration policies have caused the Central European country’s total population to grow slowly, and the country will face more choices and challenges in the future. How should the Czech Republic choose its future to change this predicament?
