Study of the Demographic Component Quality of Life of the Population of the Radioactively Contaminated Territory of the Zhytomyr Region Using ArcGIS Software

Abstract

The article provides the assessment of the demographic component of the quality of life of the population resident in the radioactively contaminated areas of the Yemilchynskyi, Malynskyi, Narodytskyi, Olevskyi, Luhynskyi, Ovrutskyi, Novohrad-Volynskyi, Khoroshivskyi districts and city of Korosten of the Zhytomyr region. The basis for the study and assessment of the quality of life of the population were the statistical data of the Head Office of Statistics in Zhytomyr Region. The uhe use of ArcGIS software made it possible to determine the effectiveness of mapping to assess the demographic component of the quality of life of the population. It was defined that for the period between 2002 and 2021, the population of radioactively contaminated areas decreased by 23.4%, while in the territory of Zhytomyr region as a whole – it by 13.9%. Natural population decline rates in rural settlements exceeded the corresponding values for urban settlements from 1.1 (Yemilchynskyi district) to 20.1 times (Narodychi raion). The values of birth rates (6.2 (Korosten city) – 10 (Olevsk raion) per 1,000 of the present population) did not have a positive effect on the demographic situation as a whole because of the high mortality rate exceeding the birth rate by 1.7 (Olevsk raion) – 3.3 times (Ovruch raion). The main causes of death are diseases of the circulatory system (76.7%), cancer (10.2%), and external factors (5.8%). In order to improve the quality of life of the population of radioactively contaminated territories in the Zhytomyr region, it is necessary to reform the state policy, to provide financial support for their revival and creation of favorable living and reproduction conditions for the population.

Keywords

• size of the population
• natural population decline
• birth and mortality rate
• causes of death