UNITED NATIONS, March 2 (Hina) - In the next 50 years Croatia will be constantly losing its population and in 2050 have 860,000 residents less than today, of whom one third will be older than 69, the United Nations estimates.
UNITED NATIONS, March 2 (Hina) - In the next 50 years Croatia will be
constantly losing its population and in 2050 have 860,000 residents
less than today, of whom one third will be older than 69, the United
Nations estimates. #L#
In its latest report on world population, the population division
of the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs estimates
that Croatia's population of 4.446 million in 2000 will fall to
3.587 million in 2050.
Over the next half-century Croatia will lose 19.3 percent of its
citizens, primarily due to the low fertility rate -- the total
fertility rate refers to the number of children born per woman until
the end of her fertility period.
This rate in Croatia currently is below the level necessary for a
long-term population exchange and will remain so for the next 50
years. Data for 2001 indicate the rate is 1.3, while the minimum
required for a population renewal is 2.1.
Currently over 21.6 percent of Croatia's population is older than
69, while in 2050 this percentage will go up to 31.5. People under 14
now make up for 17.2 percent of the population but will drop to 15.8
percent in 2050, while those between 15 and 59 will go down from the
current 61.2 to 52.7 percent.
The average age of the present-day Croat is 38.9 years, while in
2050 it will be 44.9. In 1950 the average Croat was 27.9 years old.
The average age of the world population in 2050 is expected to be
36.8 years.
Croatia's situation is typical of the trend of population loss and
its age among developed countries, especially those in Europe.
Croatia ranks 17th on the list of population decrease, while
neighbouring Slovenia is 14th. Its population in 2050 will fall
from the current 1.99 million to 1.569 million, down 21.1 percent.
On the other hand, in 50 years' time, the average Croat will live
longer. Life expectancy now is 73.3 years but in 2050 it will jump to
79.6.
In its report the U.N. also states that Croatia has 2.129 million
men and 2.298 million women.
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