PRAHA – Over the past decade, the Czech Republic has witnessed a significant increase in the number of foreigners living or working in the country. According to estimates by the Czech Statistical Office (CSO), their population may reach as high as 1.52 million. While approximately 467 thousand foreigners were officially recorded in the Czech Republic in 2015, today they represent roughly one-tenth of the total population.
The trend in the number of foreigners in the Czech Republic reflects a major shift in the country’s demographic structure. As late as the year 2000, foreigners accounted for approximately two percent of the residents. More than two decades later, their share has risen to roughly ten percent. The composition of the foreign population has also changed significantly. In 2015, a significant portion consisted of citizens from European Union countries. However, according to current estimates, nearly two-thirds of foreigners now come from non-EU countries.
The development was heavily influenced by migration from Ukraine. The rise in the number of Ukrainians living in the Czech Republic did not begin only after the outbreak of war in 2022. According to available data, their numbers increased by approximately 188 thousand between 2015 and 2022. After 2022, there was a further significant increase due to the arrival of people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Ukrainians now rank among the largest groups of foreigners in the Czech Republic, and their presence has had a major impact not only on demographics but also on the labor market, education system, housing, and social services.
The overall trend simultaneously shows that foreign migration has become an important part of Czech society over recent years. This is not merely a result of events in the last few years. The increase in the number of foreigners occurred steadily before 2022 as well, linked among other factors to economic migration, demand for labor from Czech employers, and growing mobility of residents. Thus, the shift from approximately two percent foreign-born population share in 2000 to today’s level around ten percent represents a significant demographic change. Exact figures may vary depending on methodology and whether only registered foreigners are counted or also other groups of persons residing or working long-term in the Czech Republic.
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