MIGRATION MOVEMENTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POPULATION IN THE POLOG REGION

Mireme RUSHITI, Mirjanka MADZEVIKJ, Biljana APOSTOLOVSKA TOSHEVSKA

Abstract

The subject of this paper is the migration movements of the population in the Polog region, for the period from 2004 to 2021. Migrations in the Polog region play an important role in the development of the region. They depend on natural, economic, and social factors. Migration and natural movement are the main indicators through which the demographic development of the population is expressed. Therefore, in this paper migration movements and their impact on demographic development have been analyzed. The descriptive, analytical, comparative method, statistical, and cartographic methods were used in the preparation of the paper. The analyses and conclusions are based on the processing of data from the State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia. In the Polog region from 2004 to 2021, internal migrations decreased by 118 people, while in external migrations the most intense flow was recorded in 2014, with -246 inhabitants and in 2021 with -141 inhabitants. Regarding these rates, we found that the total migration balance of the Polog region decreased in the period 2004-2021 from -146 inhabitants to – 232 inhabitants. Regarding the selectivity of migrations by gender in the analyzed region with the highest intensity are the migrations of women, while according to marital status, the migrations are more pronounced among young couples and young singles. The aim is to analyze the migration movements of the population in the Polog region, with special reference to the internal migrations and migrations of the Polog region, Polog region migrations abroad and vice versa, the immigrant and emigrant population by gender and marital status, for the identification of the factors leading to these changes related to political instability, weak institutional capacity, but often with poor economic indicators.

Pages: 149 - 158