Differentiation of reproductive behavior in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

This thesis focuses on a comparison of reproductive behavior in the Czech Republic and Slovakia from the 1990s to the present. Although the two countries repeatedly formed a common state entity throughout history, most recently until 1992, they have undergone different political, economic, and cultural developments since the dissolution of the federation, which may be reflected in demographic trends. The aim of this thesis is to analyze and compare the evolution of selected demographic indicators related to fertility, abortion, and marriage rates, and to propose scenarios for the future development of fertility in the coming decades. The analysis also considers the potential influence of the population’s religious structure on family behavior. The thesis is divided into theoretical and practical parts. The theoretical section includes a review of relevant scholarly literature and defines key concepts related to reproductive behavior. The practical part is based on data from the Czech Statistical Office, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, Eurostat, and the Human Fertility Database, and includes a descriptive and comparative analysis of the evolution of selected indicators in both countries. The final part presents a demographic forecast up to the year 2051, created using methods of functional data decomposition and exponential smoothing in the R statistical environment. The results indicate persistent differences between the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which can partly be explained by differing levels of demographic structure and religiosity. This thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of reproductive trends in Central Europe and provides a basis for further research in the field of population policy.