Since 1972 fewer children have been born than is necessary for continued population growth. In 1998 there were more deaths than births among Swiss citizens - the first time this had happened since records began in 1871.
According to a forecast issued in 2004, between 2003 and 2012 the number of children of school age (7-15) will drop by about 100,000.
Since 1993 the number of Swiss citizens has increased only because of the number of foreigners who have been naturalised.
