Demographics

According to the statistical balance, the town of Varnsdorf had a total population of 15546 inhabitants at the beginning of 2017, of which 7998 were women. This number of inhabitants corresponds to the level of 1947. For comparison - 10 years earlier, in 1937, Varnsdorf had 23719 inhabitants. In the first wave, in the period 1950-1961, there was a decrease of 1,693 inhabitants, which was influenced by the post-war development. A slight increase of 423 persons occurred in the second phase, 1961-1970. This was preceded by a significant population increase of 1 844 persons in the following years, 1970-1980, in the so-called population wave period. The population has not changed significantly since 1980. In 1994 the population reached 16341, since then it has been steadily declining.

The age composition of the population
The population of Varnsdorf is ageing. The age composition of the population is gradually changing. The number of children under the age of 14 is decreasing and at the same time their share in the total population is decreasing. At the beginning of 2017, there were about 1000 fewer children living in the town than in 1991. Thus, children represent 16% of the total population. This compares to 21.5% in 1991. The number of residents over the age of 65 nearly doubled between 1991 and 2016. The age index, which indicates the ratio of the population of post-working age (65 years and over) to the population of pre-working age (0-14 years), was 119.2% at the beginning of 2017. In 1999, the value of this index was 86.1%. The average age of the population was 41.9 years in 2016, compared to 37.1 years in 1999.

Births
The number of births dropped significantly between 1990 and 1992, and since then the birth rate has remained at a lower level, although there are currently strong classes of women of childbearing age in Varnsdorf as well. For the whole year 2016, 155 live births took place in Varnsdorf, which is 52 fewer children compared to 1991. i.e. 33.5% fewer. .

Almost half of the children born in 2016 were born out of wedlock. The growth in the number of children born out of wedlock is a national trend, but the development for the town of Varnsdorf significantly exceeds the national trend. As recently as 1991, the share of children born out of wedlock in the total number of births in Varnsdorf was 20%.

Marriages, divorces
The overall decline in the birth rate is also linked to the decline in the number of marriages. If in 1991 there were 125 marriages in the town, in 1998 there were only 82 and in 2016 only 54 marriages were registered. Increasing demands on the economic independence of the betrothed, but also other factors, among which we can include the wider opportunity for young people to travel, build their status, and engage in business, are contributing to the postponement of marriages.

In the opposite case, namely the divorce rate, there was a deterioration between 1991 and 1998, with a more positive trend thereafter. In 1998, 81 Varnsdorf marriages were divorced, in 2016 there were only 45.

Migration
The development of the town's population in the last two years was mainly influenced by a negative migration balance. The number of emigrants exceeded the number of immigrants.

Impact of demographic development
The child component of the population is experiencing changes or decline that will significantly affect the capacity of school facilities after 2005. The number of people of post-working age will increase. In this context, changes in the structure of households and housing can be expected. The number of single person households will increase. This development will put pressure on the expansion of social care capacities. The current high cost of housing acquisition and the rising cost of housing itself will increase the demand for small flats from older citizens and young married couples