Municipalities in Vojvodina with the highest share of refugees: Influence on dynamics and structural characteristics of the population

Abstract

The paper treats the issue of significance of refugee migrations in the last decade of the 20th century, for the changes of total number of inhabitants in the municipalities: Indjija, Ruma, Sremski Karlovci, Stara Pazova and Sid. These municipalities have the highest share of refugees in the total population, according to the 2002 census. The trend of negative natural increase of population in Vojvodina since 1989, contributed to the increase of the significance of migration component in population dynamics, regarding the fact that it mostly represents the crucial factor of population in-crease. In that sense, contribution of refugees to the values of mechanical inflow of population is ascertained. Having in mind the differentiation of municipalities according to the socio-economic characteristics of population, the paper gives the analysis of influence of refugees on the changes of these structures. The study encompasses economic and educational structure of population. The structure of refugee population by their economic activity also shows the extent of economic adaptation of refugees, as a very important factor in the process of their integration.