The Czech Republic is experiencing a rapid demographic shift, with the average age of its population climbing at an unprecedented rate. Last year, the average Czech was 42.8 years old, a stark increase of four years since the turn of the century. This trend paints a picture of a nation grappling with the challenges of an aging society.
Interestingly, not all regions are aging at the same pace. The Central Bohemian Region and Prague stand out as the youngest areas, with average ages of 41.5 and 41.7 years respectively. These urban centers are bucking the national trend, maintaining a relatively stable age demographic. In contrast, the Zlín Region has the highest average age at 43.9 years.
Demographer Tomáš Fiala from the University of Economics in Prague attributes this disparity to the attractiveness of urban areas. “Both regions benefit from being attractive. There are more job opportunities, so many young people move there and then have children,” he explains. This migration pattern is particularly evident in Prague, where the proportion of foreigners has grown from under 5% at the end of the last century to around 25% last year.
However, some regions are struggling with rapid aging. The Karlovy Vary Region has seen the most significant increase, with the average age rising by 5.9 years since 2000. The Moravian-Silesian Region follows closely behind with a 5.7-year increase. Fiala suggests that young people perceive these areas as lacking in prospects, leading to outward migration.
The aging trend is further illustrated by the old-age index, which measures the number of seniors (65 and older) per 100 children under 14. Nationally, this figure has jumped from 85.5 at the turn of the millennium to 129.5 last year. The Central Bohemian Region shows the most promising future demographic outlook, with only 106.3 seniors per 100 children, while the Karlovy Vary Region faces the greatest challenge with 149 seniors per 100 children.
Experts point to two main factors driving this trend: increasing life expectancy and a sharp decline in birth rates. The fertility rate, which measures the number of children per woman aged 15-49, has seen significant fluctuations. After stagnating at 1.71 children per woman from 2018 to 2020, it rose to 1.83 in 2021, breaking the 1.8 barrier for the first time in three decades. However, this was followed by a dramatic drop to 1.46 children per woman last year, pushing the number of live births below 100,000 for the first time in 18 years.
As the Czech Republic navigates this demographic shift, policymakers and society at large will need to adapt to the challenges and opportunities presented by an aging population. The contrasting trends between urban and rural areas highlight the need for targeted strategies to ensure balanced development across the nation.