Czech birth rate hits historic low, trend unlikely to reverse soon

The Czech Republic is experiencing its lowest birth rate since its founding, with just over 84,000 children born last year. Health Minister Vlastimil Válek (TOP 09) warns that the situation is unlikely to improve soon, as smaller generations of women are having children later in life. He explained that decisions about closing maternity wards are made by insurance companies, while the state only sets the minimum number of births required for a hospital to maintain accreditation for training doctors. According to the SYRI institute, the sharp decline began in 2022. Experts point to a complex mix of social, economic, and cultural factors, with the pandemic accelerating, but not causing, the trend.