Demographic shifts impact Slovakia and Czech Republic populations

Demographic shifts are significantly altering the population structures of Slovakia and the Czech Republic. In Slovakia, the number of elderly citizens has surpassed one million. According to the Statistical Office, 1.036 million people aged 65 and older lived in the country in 2025, representing 19 percent of the 5.41 million total population. This trend is driven by increased life expectancy and declining birth rates. Notably, the number of citizens aged 85 or older has doubled since 1996.

In the Czech Republic, birth rates have reached their lowest levels since records began in 1785, with 77,600 births recorded last year. However, the proportion of newborns with two foreign parents is rising, with one in every 11 infants being born to foreign citizens. This figure has doubled over the last decade. Foreign nationals now make up approximately 10 percent of the Czech population, totaling nearly 1.2 million people, a significant increase from 4 percent in 2016.