Czechia’s population falls in first half of 2025 as deaths outpace births

Czechia’s population shrank by 27,200 in the first half of this year, dropping to 10.88 million. More people died than were born, and migration also ended in a loss, according to new data released by the Czech Statistics Office on Thursday.

The number of deaths rose to 57,700, about 2,000 more than a year earlier, mainly among people over 70. At the same time, births fell for the fourth year in a row, down to 37,400. This natural decline reduced the population by more than 20,000.

Migration added to the decline. While 49,600 people moved to Czechia, over 56,000 left, many of them Ukrainians whose residence permits expired in March. The number of marriages also fell for the third year in a row, while divorces remained unchanged.