Na temelju popisne statistike i primjenom odgovarajućih matematičkih metoda, u ovom su prilogu procijenjeni ukupni demografski gubitci Like (bivše općine: Donji Lapac, Gračac, Gospić, Otočac i Titova Korenica) u Drugom svjetskom ratu i poratnom
razdoblju. Komparacijom rezultata popisa stanovništva iz 1931. i 1948. sažeto su prikazane najvažnije i najveće agregatne i strukturne demografske posljedice rata. Tako su ukupni demografski ratni gubitci procijenjeni na približno 41.000 osoba, utvrđena je
ukupna depopulacija od gotovo 27%, ustanovljen je pad gustoće napučenosti i približavanje Like subekumenskim obilježjima naseljenosti te je zapaženo bitno narušavanje dobnog i spolnog sastava stanovništva, naročito piramide starosti, koja pokazuje značajna udubljenja u najvitalnijim i radno najsposobnijim dobnim skupinama, ponajviše muškog, ali i ženskog stanovništva. S obzirom na to da je Lika i prije Drugoga svjetskog rata pokazivala karakteristike depopulacijskog prostora, ratni demografski
gubitci nisu jedini razlog nastavka ukupne depopulacije, ali je ona u velikoj mjeri progredirana zahvaljujući upravo njima. Rezultati popisa iz 1948. su na strani demografske "pasive" obuhvatili i poslijeratnu emigraciju u ravničarska područja Vojvodine i istočne Hrvatske potaknutu drugom velikom agrarnom reformom, ali i na strani demografske "aktive" povećanu rodnost tijekom prvih godina poslijeratnog "baby boom" razdoblja.On the basis of listed statistics and with the application of the appropriate mathematical methods, in this article are estimated the total of the demographic losses of Lika (the former districts: Donji Lapac, Gračac, Gospić, Otočac and Titova Korenica) in the Second World War and the post-war period. With the comparison of the results of the census from 1931 and 1948 concisely shown are the most important and largest aggregate and structural demographic
consequences of the war. So the total demographic war losses are estimated at close to 41,000 people, a total depopulation of almost 27% was assessed, a drop was established in the density of
the population and the approach of Lika to sub-ecumenical characteristics of population plus a significant disruption of the age and gender composition of the population was noted, particularly
of the age pyramid, which shows significant dips in the most vital and most capable working age groups, mostly of the male, but also female population. Considering that Lika even before the Second World War showed characteristics of an area of depopulation, the demographic war losses are not the only reason for the continuation of the overall depopulation, but to a great extent it developed because of them. The results of the census list from 1948 on the side of demographic "liabilities" also included the post-war emigration in the lowland regions of Vojvodina and eastern Croatia induced by the second great agrarian reform, but also on the side of demographic "assets" the increased birth-rate during the first years of the post-war "baby boom" period
