Demographic events, Slovenia, 2020

Natural increase recorded only in the third quarter

In 2020, Slovenia recorded the largest natural decrease since 1945: −5,249 or −2.5 per 1,000 population.
Such a large natural decrease was mainly the result of the above-average mortality in November and December, when Slovenia was hit by the second wave of the COVID-19 epidemic.

In 2020, 24,016 people died, almost 3,800 more than the average between 2015 and 2019. Excess mortality was the highest in the fourth quarter: at that time, 66% more people died than on average in the fourth quarters between 2015 and 2019. In the last quarter of 2020, natural decrease was −3,955 (or −7.5 per 1,000 population).

Natural increase was recorded only in the third quarter. This was also the quarter when most children were born: 5,141. In total, 18,767 children were born 2020, 3% fewer than in 2019.

In 2020, fewer marriages and divorces than in 2019

In 2020, 5,214 couples were married or 22% fewer than in 2019. Most couples were married in August (1,009).

There were 1,774 divorces in 2020 or 28% fewer than in 2019. The number of divorces was the highest in the third quarter (557).

Net migration positive in all quarters

Net migration was positive in all quarters. It was the highest in the third quarter when 11,071 more residents immigrated to Slovenia than emigrated from it.

Most, 31%, internal migrations, i.e. changes of the settlement of residence within Slovenia, were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2020. In total, 42% more internal migrations were recorded in 2020 than in 2019.

The increase in internal migration in 2020 was largely due to the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. Many people chose to change their official residence (most often they registered temporary residence in another municipality) when movement between municipalities was restricted in the second and fourth quarters of 2020. Statistically, these were recorded as internal migrations.