THE MAIN DEMOGRAPHIC-TRENDS - SLOVAKIA 19 96

From point of view of demographic development, the year 1996 brought n o major surprises or turns. It can be described in general terms as th e year when: 1. the development trends in all basic demographic proces ses have been confirmed and remained stable 2. during the 1990's devel opment the demographic behaviour has stabilized. Naturally, in demogra phic development one year is a too short period for evaluation of popu lation demographic behaviour from both quality and quantity points of view. Its basic characteristic and possible peculiarities can only be identified on the background of a long-term analysis (marriage rates, divorce rates, birth rates, abortion rates, mortality, general populat ion profiles in the Slovak Republic). In this view a specific year can have a break through character or vice versa - can completely dissolv e within the existing chain of given processes. 1996 represents the la tter option. Therefore, its analysis must be conducted with the respec t to the context of a long-term demographic development (of 1990's at least) and development of other populations.