SLOVAKIA's demographic outlook foresees an ageing population and too few newborns to reverse the trend.
The country must prepare for difficulties in the economy, social and healthcare spheres after 2015 when the proportion of elderly is expected to accelerate, states a study prepared by the Labour Ministry based on the prognoses of the Demographic Research Centre, the Pravda daily wrote.
The number of people above 65 in Slovakia will rise to 789,000 in the coming decade, up by 144,000 compared to today.
Not even the expected rise in the number of newborns will save the situation, according to experts. Currently there are 1.2 children per female in Slovakia and this figure is expected to rise to 1.5.
By 2050 the number of Slovaks will fall to 4.9 million from 5.4 million in 2005. The average Slovak will be 40.5 in 2015 and 47.8 in 2050 compared to the current average of 37.6 years.
Compiled by Martina Jurinová from press reports
TheSlovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the informationpresented in its Flash News postings.
