Analysis of demographic changes in the rural areas of the Republic of Srpska

Abstract

The rural areas of Republic of Srpska occupy about 95% of its territory and about 83% of its population. The aim of the research was to determine the differences of demographic indicators, focusing on rural areas, between the two Population Censuses, and confirm the hypothesis that human capital in the rural areas of the Republic of Srpska is a critical factor in the development of rural areas which tends to further threaten economic and social development. The paper analyzes the results of the 2013 Population Census and the 1991 Census, comparing the basic demographic indicators. The results of the analysis show loss of population, number of household members and accelerated population ageing, and decline in the number of active population. Demographic problems are equally expressed in all parts of the rural area irrespective of the population density.

Keywords

• population census
• rural areas
• households
• agricultural holdings