Population pyramid
Population pyramid or vase?
The interactive graphical presentation of sex and age structure of the population of Slovenia 1987–2100 on our website has been updated. Pyramids at NUTS 3 level (statistical regions) are also available.
Population ageing influences the shape of the pyramid
The shapes of population pyramids are constantly changing through time. Today many of them do not even have the shape of a pyramid. The real shape of a pyramid has a population where children represent the most numerous group of the population and the pyramid narrows toward the top. With ageing, the probability of death is increasing. This kind of pyramid is typical for young populations with short life expectancy.
For older populations, including the population of Slovenia, the shape of the pyramid is more like a vase. Due to a small number of births, prolongling of life and consequently a higher share of older population, the pyramid peaks are more rounded, while the bottom parts of the pyramids, which represent the younger population, are getting narrower.
The impact of wars on the population structure
The population pyramid for Slovenia for 1987 has a shape that could be with a bit of imagination described as a pyramid. From that pyramid the direct and indirect impacts of World War I and World War II can be observed.
More obvious are indirect impacts of the two wars seen as notches caused by the decline in births. The reasons for birth decline were uncertain conditions during the war and the absence of male population, which was actively involved in the war. Because of the characteristics of WWI (frontal warfare and multi-year absence of male population aged 18–41), the notch in the age 68–71 (born in 1915–1918) is more prominent than the notch for the population born during WWII. Direct consequences of both wars are shown in the disturbed male to female ratio due to higher war mortality among the male population.
In the population pyramid for 2024, the direct impact of WWI and the Spanish flue can no longer be detected. However, the notch caused by birth decline during WWII can still be seen.
“Baby boom generations”
After WWII, Slovenia experienced the so-called baby boom, which can be seen in the pyramid for 1987 as the biggest bulge. In the first years after WWII, around 28,000 to 31,000 children were born in Slovenia each year, and in the 1949-1953 period the most children after WWII ever; on average 34,000 per year. The experts interpret this as compensation or the postponement of births and as a consequence of the change in the social and economic situation after the war.
This bulge is no longer visible in the 2024 pyramid, as many people of that generation have already died. However, a similar increase in the population pyramid for 2024 can be seen in the age 42–48. These are the children of the first post-war baby boom generation, who were born to women aged on average 25 years. These are also second-generation immigrants (children born to immigrants from ex-Yugoslavia). Due to a distinct decline in births after the mid-1980s, the pyramid narrows more and more at the bottom. In the 2006–2012 period, an increased number of births was recorded as a consequence of women from the “second baby boom generation” postponing births to later ages. Since then, the number of births has been declining.
Women live longer than men
Until the age of 61 years, the number of men exceeds the number of women in all ages in 2024. This is the consequence of the sex ratio among newborn children as well as the sex structure of immigrants. Above 61 years of age, the share of women starts to rise because women live on average longer than men.
Updated population pyramids
New and updated population pyramids are available on our website. The data go from 1987 through 2024 (actual data) to 2100 (EUROPOP population projections). For the first time, pyramids are also available at NUTS 3 level (2008–2024). They will be updated regularly as new data become available.
The shapes of population pyramids are constantly changing through time. Today many of them do not even have the shape of a pyramid. The real shape of a pyramid has a population where children represent the most numerous group of the population and the pyramid narrows toward the top. With ageing, the probability of death is increasing. This kind of pyramid is typical for young populations with short life expectancy.
For older populations, including the population of Slovenia, the shape of the pyramid is more like a vase. Due to a small number of births, prolongling of life and consequently a higher share of older population, the pyramid peaks are more rounded, while the bottom parts of the pyramids, which represent the younger population, are getting narrower.
The impact of wars on the population structure
The population pyramid for Slovenia for 1987 has a shape that could be with a bit of imagination described as a pyramid. From that pyramid the direct and indirect impacts of World War I and World War II can be observed.
More obvious are indirect impacts of the two wars seen as notches caused by the decline in births. The reasons for birth decline were uncertain conditions during the war and the absence of male population, which was actively involved in the war. Because of the characteristics of WWI (frontal warfare and multi-year absence of male population aged 18–41), the notch in the age 68–71 (born in 1915–1918) is more prominent than the notch for the population born during WWII. Direct consequences of both wars are shown in the disturbed male to female ratio due to higher war mortality among the male population.
In the population pyramid for 2024, the direct impact of WWI and the Spanish flue can no longer be detected. However, the notch caused by birth decline during WWII can still be seen.
“Baby boom generations”
After WWII, Slovenia experienced the so-called baby boom, which can be seen in the pyramid for 1987 as the biggest bulge. In the first years after WWII, around 28,000 to 31,000 children were born in Slovenia each year, and in the 1949-1953 period the most children after WWII ever; on average 34,000 per year. The experts interpret this as compensation or the postponement of births and as a consequence of the change in the social and economic situation after the war.
This bulge is no longer visible in the 2024 pyramid, as many people of that generation have already died. However, a similar increase in the population pyramid for 2024 can be seen in the age 42–48. These are the children of the first post-war baby boom generation, who were born to women aged on average 25 years. These are also second-generation immigrants (children born to immigrants from ex-Yugoslavia). Due to a distinct decline in births after the mid-1980s, the pyramid narrows more and more at the bottom. In the 2006–2012 period, an increased number of births was recorded as a consequence of women from the “second baby boom generation” postponing births to later ages. Since then, the number of births has been declining.
Women live longer than men
Until the age of 61 years, the number of men exceeds the number of women in all ages in 2024. This is the consequence of the sex ratio among newborn children as well as the sex structure of immigrants. Above 61 years of age, the share of women starts to rise because women live on average longer than men.
Updated population pyramids
New and updated population pyramids are available on our website. The data go from 1987 through 2024 (actual data) to 2100 (EUROPOP population projections). For the first time, pyramids are also available at NUTS 3 level (2008–2024). They will be updated regularly as new data become available.
When making use of the data and information of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, always add: "Source: SURS". More: Copyright.
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