engleski

Demographic reality, perspective and challenges in Croatian hilly-mountain areas – case study Gorski kotar

For more than a century Gorski kotar, sparsely populated Croatian hilly-mountain and rural region is facing population decrease. Unfavourable physical-geographical features and socio-economic conditions influenced significantly on its demographic development and settlement network. After the Second World War, during the period of the most intensive industrialization and urbanization in Croatia, population and economic development was concentrated predominantly in large cities and with tourism development on the coast. At the same time Gorski kotar remained on the periphery, insufficiently included in economic development, and without any significant larger regional urban centre that could ensure conditions necessary to keep the population in this region. Settlement network is dispersed and characterised by a large number of small settlements which depopulate because of birth deficit and long-term emigration. According to 2011 Census data Gorski kotar had 256 settlements with total of 23, 011 inhabitants. At the beginning of the 21st century this region is demographically among the most imperilled areas in Croatia. Its demographic reality represents the limiting factor for its economic and social development and demographic subsistence of communities, as well as push factor for further out-migration.

Gorski kotar; Croatia; depopulation; aging; emigration

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