Slovenia’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between birth and death rates—has been negative or close to zero in recent years, indicating a stagnating or slightly declining population without accounting for migration. As of 2023, Slovenia’s RNI is around -0.2 per 1,000 population, reflecting low birth rates and an aging population. Comparatively, neighboring Austria and Hungary also experience negative or near-zero RNIs, facing similar demographic challenges with aging populations and low fertility. In contrast, Croatia and Italy exhibit even lower or more negative RNIs, underscoring a broader regional trend of natural population decline in Central and Southern Europe. Meanwhile, Slovenia’s neighbor to the southeast, Croatia, and to the northeast, Hungary, both have slightly more negative RNIs, while Austria’s RNI is similar to Slovenia’s. Overall, Slovenia’s RNI aligns closely with its neighbors, all of whom are grappling with demographic aging and low natural population growth.
| Year | Rate of Natural Increase | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 0.001 | 2,002,826 |
| 2000 | -0.02 | 2,011,242 |
| 2005 | -0.033 | 2,020,477 |
| 2010 | 0.179 | 2,084,182 |
| 2015 | 0.038 | 2,099,131 |
| 2020 | -0.157 | 2,102,452 |
| 2024 | -0.255 | 2,097,893 |
| 2025 | -0.274 | 2,095,577 |
| 2026 | -0.292 | 2,092,892 |
| 2030 | -0.337 | 2,079,316 |
| 2035 | -0.352 | 2,059,546 |
| 2040 | -0.37 | 2,038,939 |
| 2045 | -0.431 | 2,014,803 |
| 2050 | -0.511 | 1,983,776 |
| 2055 | -0.573 | 1,946,333 |
| 2060 | -0.598 | 1,905,804 |
| 2065 | -0.592 | 1,865,645 |
| 2070 | -0.571 | 1,827,994 |
| 2075 | -0.546 | 1,793,563 |
| 2080 | -0.51 | 1,762,681 |
| 2085 | -0.46 | 1,736,355 |
| 2090 | -0.418 | 1,714,696 |
| 2095 | -0.4 | 1,696,187 |
| 2100 | -0.412 | 1,678,275 |
Data from US Census International Database