World Population Day

World Population Day is celebrated every year on July 11th. It was initiated by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989. World Population Day is celebrated in July because approximately that month in 1987 world population reached five billion people.

According to the mid-2008 estimate, the Republic of Croatia had 4 434 508 inhabitants, which is by 1 474, or 0.03%, less than in the previous year. In spite of the total decrease in the population number, seven counties recorded a slight increase in population. As compared to the previous year estimate, the largest decrease in population number was recorded in the County of Lika-Senj, 591 inhabitants or 1.16%, while the largest increase was recorded in the County of Zadar, 1 613 inhabitants or 0.93%.

The share of women in the total population of the Republic of Croatia in 2008 was 51.8% and of men 48.2% and such ratio was recorded in most counties. Still, the largest one was recorded in the City of Zagreb, where the share of women was 53.5%.

The share of youth (0-19 years of age) in the total population at the country level continued to decrease. In 2008, it amounted to 21.34%. This share was the highest in the County of Požega-Slavonia, 24.4%, and the lowest in the County of Primorje-Gorski kotar, 17.4%.

As compared to the total population, the largest number of persons aged 65 and over was recorded in the County of Lika-Senj (23.5%). Unlike the situation in 2007, when this number was less than 16% in only two counties, Zagreb and Meðimurje, in 2008 it was recorded in the County of Split-Dalmatia as well.

In 2008, the population continued to grow older, so the average age of the total population of the Republic of Croatia was 41.0 years. The disproportion of age-sex structure of population was also evident in the average age. Therefore, it was 39.2 years for men and 42.6 years for women. This tendency of population ageing was seen in the ageing index as well, which, as compared to the previous year, increased by 2.1 and was 105.2% in 2008.

Regarding natural change in population, in 2008 43 929 children were born, out of 43 753 live birth and 176 stillbirths. Out of the total number of live births 51.4% were boys and 48.6% girls. The live birth rate, respectively number of live births per 1 000 inhabitants, in 2008 was 9.9.

In 2008 the number of deaths was 52 151, respectively 50.3% men and 49.7% women, which makes 0.4% less then in previous year. The death rate (deaths per 1 000 inhabitants) in 2008 was 11.8. On average, men died with 69.7 years and women with 77.6 years.
As in previous years, in 2008, most people died from circulatory diseases, that is, 43.5% men and 57.2% women, and from malign tumours, 29.4% men and 21.4% women.

The number of infant deaths in 2008 amounted to 195, out of which 32.8% died during the first day of life. Out of the total number of infant deaths, 61.0%, died during the first week of life. Looking at infant mortality over a longer period, we can see a significant drop for example, the infant death rate (the number of infant deaths per 1 000 live births) in 1968 was 41.1, in 1988 was 13.1 and in 2008 was 4.5.

The natural increase rate in 2008 was negative at -1.9, which was also confirmed by the vital index (live births per 100 deaths), which was 83.9
.