Demographic ageing of the population in the County of Šibenik-Knin: grandparent boom

Abstract

U radu se analiziraju uzroci i značajke demografskog starenja stanovništva u Šibensko-kninskoj županiji s pomoću osnovnih demografskih pokazatelja prema popisima stanovništva od 1971. do 2011. godine. Analizira se prostorna diferencijacija demografskog starenja na razini mikroregija u županiji, na razini gradova/općina te naselja. Dana je i usporedba starenja stanovništva hrvatskih županija iz čega proizlazi da Šibensko-kninska županija, zajedno s Ličko-senjskom, ima najstarije stanovništvo u Hrvatskoj. Starenje u Šibensko-kninskoj županiji, uvjetovano izrazitim ruralnim egzodusom koji je bio intenzivan od kraja 60-ih i početkom 70-ih godina 20. stoljeća te kontinuiranim smanjivanjem fertiliteta i naslijeđenom starosnom strukturom, prisutno je na svim teritorijalnim razinama Županije. Iako je proces starenja započeo u primorskom dijelu, zagorski prostor je više i brže ostario nego Primorje. Na osnovi brojnih pokazatelja demografske starosti i intenziteta starenja, proizlazi da prema stupnju bodovne demografske ostarjelosti stanovništvo Šibensko-kninske županije odlikuje vrlo duboka starost, međutim više od polovice naselja ima obilježja izrazite duboke ili krajnje duboke starosti.This paper analyses demographic ageing of the population in the County of Šibenik-Knin by using basic demographic indicators based on data collected from population censuses from 1971 to 2011. It analyses spatial differentiation of the ageing process at the level of the County, micro-regions, towns/municipalities and settlements. The research also provides a comparison of population ageing in different counties of the Republic of Croatia, from which it is evident that the County of Šibenik-Knin, as well as the Country of Lika-Senj, has the oldest population in Croatia. Ageing in the County of Šibenik-Knin, which was triggered by extreme rural exodus that was most intensive from the end of 1960s to the early 1970s, as well as by continuous declining fertility rates and by inherited age composition, was recorded at all territorial levels of the County. Although the ageing process started in littoral area (Primorje), hinterland (Zagora) experienced a faster and more intensive ageing. Based on numerous indicators of demographic ageing and its intensity, and compared with the point value indicators of ageing, it is evident that the population of the County of Šibenik-Knin is characterized by advanced old age. However, more than half of the observed settlements are characterized by very advanced or extremely advanced old age