Immigration drove Czech population growth in the first part of 2022

The population of the Czech Republic increased by 3,206 during the first quarter of 2022 to reach 10,519,913 million, according to preliminary data from the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ). Marriages also increased, with Feb. 22, 2022, the most popular first-quarter day in 20 years.

The increase was due to migration, which saw 10,838 more people coming to the Czech Republic than leaving. The figures do not take into account people who have been granted temporary protection in connection with the war in Ukraine. According to data from the Alien Information System, there were 250,236 of them at the end of the first quarter.

The rise in population is a change from last year, when the population fell in the first quarter of 2021 by 6,485 and reached 10,488,351. High deaths due to Covid and a lack of migration due to limited travel were behind the drop. The population was 9,691 higher at the end of the first quarter of 2022 than it was at the end of Q1 2021.

From the perspective of regular migration statistics, excluding people from Ukraine, a total of 19,168 people immigrated to the Czech Republic from abroad during the first quarter, while 8,330 people left the country.

The natural change in population, with deaths compared to births, showed a drop of 7,632 people. The number of live births during the first quarter reached 24,232 and was lower than the number of deaths, which amounted to 31,864.

There were 32 percent fewer deaths in the first quarter of this year, down by 15,956, compared to Q1 2021. Last year, the country was experiencing higher deaths due to the coronavirus pandemic. The number of Covid-related deaths this year has fallen. The number of births, though, was also lower than in the same time last year, down 1.4 percent.

Compared to the average from 2015 to '19, the number of deaths was between 3 and 4 percent above average. This is partly due to changes in the age structure of the population. Large numbers of people born in the 1940s are entering the age of higher mortality. Within the five-year age groups, the most deaths were recorded among people aged 75–79 years. Of any year, the most deaths were recorded for people born in 1946.

A total of 59 children died within one year of age, similarly to a year earlier, and infant mortality was slightly higher year-on-year, at 2.4 per 1,000 live births.

The number of marriages increased year on year. From January to March this year, 4,242 couples entered into marriage, some 1,318 more than a year earlier, and the most since 2009. “During the first quarter, February dates were most attractive for engaged couples,” Michaela Němečková from the ČSÚ Demographic Statistics Unit said.

“A total of 2,211 marriages were registered in February and nearly 1,100, half of them, on a single day – on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Usually, up to 20 weddings take place on Tuesday in February. The last daily count of more than 1,000 marriages in the period of the first quarter of the year was recorded 20 years ago, on 2 Feb. 2, 2002, but then it was Saturday," Michaela Němečková from the ČSÚ Demographic Statistics Unit said.

Both days had unusual numbers – 22/02/22 and 02/02/02 – which likely caused the attraction of getting married on the dates. Most grooms were aged 28–33 years, most brides were aged 27–31 years. A total of 62 percent of the couple married for the first time.