Intraregional demographic disparities: The case of the Southeastern Serbia (1980-2017)

Rather pronounced differences among the republics and provinces were among the main characteristics of the population development in the former socialist Yugoslavia. After the dissolution of the federal state, all the newly formed states were demographically less heterogeneous and changes over time led to the elimination of the differences among them. The current political reality has caused the Republic of Serbia (excluding Kosovo and Metohija) to become more or less homogenous area in demographic terms. The differences still exist and they are specifically pronounced in some smaller regional units. The region of Southeastern Serbia, consisting of five districts (Jablanicki, Nisavski, Pirotski, Pcinjski, Toplicki) attracts special attention. It includes municipalities that are demographically rather heterogenous and on republic level they have minimum or maximum values of the main demographic indicators of fertility, mortality, migration and age structure. The paper presents the current demographic situation in Southeastern Serbia, as well as the changes that took place after 1980 on the municipal level. It is concluded that they have led to the greater demographic homogenization of that area. Such changes create the conditions for a more effective population policy. At the same time, so far presented intraregional differences require differentiated measures at the local community level, adapted to their specific needs. Also, the paper points to real difficulties in collecting statistical data, as well as to limitations and caution regarding the interpretation of results.