Podgorje obuhvaća prostor hrvatske jadranske obale u podnožju Velebita.
Adminsitrativno gledano, istraživanjem su obuhvaćena naselja Grada Senja, te općina
Karlobag i Starigrad, koja svojim teritorijem participiraju na obali Jadranskog mora.
Promatrani je prostor podijeljen između Ličko-senjske (Grad Senj i Općina Karlobag)
i Zadarske županje (Općina Strarigrad). Podgorje ima vrlo negativna demografska
obilježja. Ukupna depopulacija traje, s iznimkom jednog međupopisja (1981. – 1991.),
kontinuirano od 1910. godine kada je zabilježen maksimum naseljenosti (16 782
stanovnika). U sljedećih se sto godina broj stanovnika skoro prepolovio. Prema
najnovijim popisu stanovništva iz 2011. godine Podgorje je imalo samo 8 894 stanovnika.
Prirodna depopulacija je u Podgorju prisutna dugi niz godina što vrlo negativno utječe
na demografske prilike. Starenje stanovništva je u vrlo uznapredovalom stadiju. Godine
1971. indeks starenja iznosio je 58, dok je prema posljednjem popisu iz 2011. vrijednost
toga demografskog pokazatelja porasla na čak 187,8.
Razlozi ovakvog nepovoljnog demografskog stanja su kompleksni. Fizičkogeografska
obilježja nepovoljno su u prošlosti utjecala na razvoj (krški reljef s mnogo strmih
oblika, jaka bura). Danas se Podgorje nalazi u zoni preklapanja nodalno-funkcionalnih
područja Rijeke, kojoj gravitira njegov sjeverni dio te Zadra, kojem gravitira njegov južni
dio. Izgradnjom autoceste Zagreb – Split i planiranom izgradnjom autoceste ili brze ceste
Rijeka – Žuta Lokva, Podgorje će se u biti naći u svojevrsnoj prometnoj izolaciji, što neće
povoljno djelovati na demografske i ekonomske tokove. Unatoč položaju na jadranskoj obali koji nudi dobru mogućnost razvoja turizma,
s iznimkom Starigrada, gdje je polazišna točka za izlete u NP Paklenica, ta djelatnost u
Podgorju nije znatnije razvijena, što nepovoljno utječe na demografske prilike.Podgorje encompasses the area of the Croatia Adriatic coast at the foot of Velebit. Viewed
administratively, included in the research are the settlements of the town of Senj, plus the
municipalities of Karlobag and Starigrad, which with their territory participate on the coast of
the Adriatic Sea. The observed area is divided between Lika-Senj County (Town of Senj and
the Municipality of Karlobag) and Zadar County (Municipality of Starigrad). Podgorje has very
negative demographic features. The overall depopulation has lasted, with the exception of one
intercensal period (1981-1991), continuously from 1910 when the largest population was noted
(16,782 residents). In the following one hundred years the number of inhabitants almost halved.
According to the latest census of the population from 2011 Podgorje had only 8,894 inhabitants.
The natural depopulation has been present in Podgorje for many years, which influences the
demographic conditions very negatively. The ageing of the population is in a very advanced stage.
In 1971, the ageing index was 58, whilst according to the last census from 2011, the value of this
demographic indicator had risen to as much as 187.8.
The reasons for this unfavourable demographic situation are complex. The physicalgeographical
features have unfavourable affected development in the past (the karst relief with
many steep configurations, and strong ‘bura’ wind). Today Podgorje is located in the zone of the
overlapping nodal-functional regions of Rijeka, to which its northern part gravitates, and Zadar, to
which its southern part gravitates. With the construction of the Zagreb-Split motorway and with
the planned motorway or the Rijeka-Žuta Lokva express road, Podgorje will in effect find itself in
a kind of transport-like isolation, which will not act favourably on the demographic and economic
trends.
Despite the position on the Adriatic coast which offers the good possibility for the
development of tourism, with the exception of Starigrad, where there is a starting point for trips
into Paklenica National Park, this activity in Podgorje is not more significantly developed, which
unfavourably affects the demographic conditions
