Database size shrinks as years progress.

I started a save with English league playable down to tier 6 and added all top division players from each continent and database size small. My problem is as the years progress the number of players is dropping. For example approx 103000 when started to approx 80000 in 2025 now in 2043 it is 75000.

Does it eventually plateau out or because I chose a small database player numbers will slowly drop to reflect this? For example will I see 50000 in 2075.