Population figures in Styria: older people dominate, communities shrink!

Population figures in Styria: older people dominate, communities shrink!

Spital am Semmering, Österreich - Styria faces dramatic changes in its population structure. On January 1, 2025, the federal state only counted 1,271,940 inhabitants, which corresponds to a moderate increase of 0.2 percent compared to the previous year, while Austria recorded a total of 0.4 percent, as Steiermark.at/stories/3292871/"> styria. Districts such as Bruck-Mürzzuschlag, where the population decreases by 1 percent, are particularly affected. With a loss of 16 percent, the municipality of Spital am Semmering is the most extreme decrease in Styria; From last year to January 2025, 275 people left the community. The closure of an asylum quarters is listed as one of the main reasons for this dramatic decline.

In addition, an analysis on the age structures shows that Styria is getting older. The proportion of children and adolescents steadily decreases while the proportion of senior citizens increases. According to Landesentwicklung.steiermark.at , the average age of the population has already risen to 44.6 years. This trend is particularly visible in the districts of Bruck-Mürzzuschlag, Leoben and Murtal, where the residents are on average the oldest. According to alarming statistics, the relationship between seniors and children and adolescents has become more than balanced; There are now 119 seniors on 100 children and adolescents.

strong decline in certain communities

The demographic changes also skill light on the challenges for the infrastructure and social services in the affected regions. While a moderate increase is recorded in communities such as Graz environment, other areas fight both with a shrinking population and with increasing aging. These developments require urgent measures on the part of those responsible in order to secure the quality of life in Styria in the long term and to meet the needs of an older population.