Depopulating areas in the Central Macroregion and their analysis in terms of demographic ageing in the second decade of the 21st c.

Abstract

Depopulating areas in the Central Macroregion and their analysis in terms of demographic ageing in the second decade of the 21st c.

Poland’s Central Macroregion comprising the Łódzkie and Świętokrzyskie voivodeships has long faced deepening depopulation processes. With the highest net population loss and the oldest demographic age of the population, it stands out among other macroregions.

This study seeks to determine the intensity and causes of depopulation processes affecting the Central Macroregion in the second decade of the 21st c. and to identify municipalities experiencing annual decreases in population. Its secondary objective is to evaluate the municipalities in terms of demographic ageing.

The analysis uses the indicators of the intensity of population change and age structure. To create the typology of municipalities according to the causes of population increase and decline, the author developed an approach inspired by Webb’s method (1963). The data on population changes and age structure in the Central Macroregion from 2011 to 2020 were sourced from Statistics Poland’s publications.

Main conclusions. Most municipalities in the Central Macroregion experienced population losses in the years and periods, caused by migration and a natural decrease at the same time. Net population declines mainly occurred in the municipalities located along the borders of Łódzkie and Świętokrzyskie and towns. The majority of the demographically old municipalities recorded annual population declines driven by a combination of migration and natural decrease.