
Prague is growing, and migration is playing a key role in this expansion.
However, the city is facing a critical shortage of affordable housing, as well as insufficient capacity in schools and social services for the elderly.
According to an analysis by the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO), the city’s population increased during the first three quarters of 2024, largely due to migration. Many people are leaving the capital, with one of the primary reasons being the lack of affordable housing.
“Its availability continues to deteriorate and is unlikely to improve anytime soon,” said Evžen Korec, CEO of Ekospol. He stressed that Prague must prepare for future population growth. “A high-quality, up-to-date spatial plan is necessary, one that allows for the construction of large housing complexes with thousands of new apartments,” he added.
In the first eleven months of 2024, construction projects started on 6,759 new apartments in Prague. However, experts argue that the city needs to build at least 10,000 new units annually to meet demand.
The construction process is currently taking up to ten years, causing many residents to seek more affordable housing options in Central Bohemia. Since 1990, the region’s population has increased by over 230,000 people.
Limits to Development
Housing is just one part of the equation for Prague’s continued growth. The increasing population is also placing greater pressure on the city’s schools, healthcare facilities, and social services for the elderly.
These challenges will only intensify as the population continues to expand. Projections suggest that by 2050, Prague could have as many as two million residents. A recent study by the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) sheds light on these concerns.
“The study provides the city government with solid data for spatial planning and strategic decision-making regarding public infrastructure and services,” said IPR Director Ondřej Boháč. The study forecasts the largest population increase in Prague’s ninth district.
The IPR report also highlights significant growth in areas such as Prague 18 (Letňany) and Prague 22 (Uhříněves), particularly in the southeastern districts.
“This confirms that, in the future, Prague will need a significant increase in healthcare facilities and doctors, as well as homes for the elderly and other social services,” said Alexandra Udženija (ODS), Deputy Mayor for Social Affairs and Healthcare.
Prague’s ‘Passerby’ Population
Compared to data from the first to third quarters of 2023, Prague’s overall population growth through migration has decreased. The natural population increase also declined, with fewer births, deaths, and immigrants, while emigration numbers rose.
“A large number of people leaving Prague were those whose temporary protection expired at the end of March due to the war in Ukraine and did not request an extension,” explained Adam Vlč from the Information Services Department of the CZSO.
Despite these declines, Prague, along with the Central Bohemian and South Moravian regions, remains one of the few areas in the country where population growth continues.
Statistics show that between the first and third quarters of 2024, 8,684 people died and 9,062 children were born in Prague.
The most births were recorded in Prague 4 and Prague 9. The total population increase during this period was driven by over 50,000 people migrating to the capital, which represents a six percent decrease compared to the same period in 2023.
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