A Demometric Analysis of the Croatian Population

Abstract

In Croatia as in other European countries we experience a decrease of fertility and a demographic ageing of the population. In almost all the countries the level of fertility is below the replacement level. The decrease of the fertility and the increase of life expectancy leads to a larger proportion of the elderly population and to a decrease of the potential working contingent, which influences the entire economic development. A systematic analysis of the population is therefore essential. To analyze the population, as precise as possible, we apply demometric methods. Thus, the fertility, the stable population model, and the hidden population momentum are analyzed. Besides usual demographic measurements we also calculate the Bongaarts-Feeney quantum and tempo of fertility and the Coale-Trussell fertility method. The intrinsic growth rate of a stable population model is also determined. The population momentum describes a possible reason for the changing number of inhabitants. All these demometric methods are also applied on other countries so that the Croatian population can be compared to other populations of European countries.