Demographics of Slovenia
Demographic features of the population of Slovenia include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
| Demographics of Slovenia | |
|---|---|
Population pyramid of Slovenia in 2020 | |
| Population | 2,101,208 (2022 est.) |
| Growth rate | 0.06% (2022 est.) |
| Birth rate | 8.3 births/1,000 population |
| Death rate | 10.4 deaths/1,000 population |
| Life expectancy | 81.82 years |
| • male | 78.96 years |
| • female | 84.79 years |
| Fertility rate | 1.6 children |
| Infant mortality rate | 1.52 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Net migration rate | 1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population |
| Sex ratio | |
| Total | 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.) |
| At birth | 1.04 male(s)/female |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1857 | 1,101,854 | — |
| 1869 | 1,128,768 | +0.20% |
| 1880 | 1,182,223 | +0.42% |
| 1890 | 1,234,056 | +0.43% |
| 1900 | 1,268,055 | +0.27% |
| 1910 | 1,321,098 | +0.41% |
| 1921 | 1,304,800 | −0.11% |
| 1931 | 1,397,650 | +0.69% |
| 1948 | 1,439,800 | +0.17% |
| 1953 | 1,504,427 | +0.88% |
| 1961 | 1,591,523 | +0.71% |
| 1971 | 1,727,137 | +0.82% |
| 1981 | 1,891,864 | +0.92% |
| 1991 | 1,913,355 | +0.11% |
| 2002 | 1,964,036 | +0.24% |
| 2011 | 2,050,189 | +0.48% |
| 2021 | 2,108,977 | +0.28% |
| Source: | ||
With 101 inhabitants per square kilometre (262/sq mi), Slovenia ranks low among the European countries in population density (compared to 402/km2 (1042/sq mi) for the Netherlands or 195/km2 (505/sq mi) for Italy). The Littoral–Inner Carniola Statistical Region has the lowest population density, and the Central Slovenia Statistical Region has the highest.
According to the 2002 census, Slovenia's main ethnic group are Slovenes (83%). At least 13% of the population were immigrants from other parts of former Yugoslavia, primarily ethnic Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims), Croats and Serbs and their descendants. They have settled mainly in cities and suburbanised areas. Relatively small but protected by the Constitution of Slovenia are the Hungarian and the Italian national community. A special position is held by the geographically dispersed Roma ethnic community.
Slovenia is among the European countries with the most pronounced ageing of population, ascribable to a low birth rate and increasing life expectancy. Almost all Slovenian inhabitants older than 64 are retired, with no significant difference between the genders. The working-age group is diminishing in spite of immigration. The proposal to raise the retirement age from the current 57 for women and 58 for men was rejected in a referendum in 2011. Also the difference among the genders regarding life expectancy is still significant. In 2007, it was 74.6 years for men and 81.8 years for women. In addition, in 2009, the suicide rate in Slovenia was 22 per 100,000 persons per year, which places Slovenia among the highest ranked European countries in this regard.