Population decrease or increase?: First results of the Census 2002 in Central Serbia and Vojvodina

Abstract

This article analyses the first results of the latest census of population taken in 2002. For the first time, the census was not taken on the whole territory of the FR of Yugoslavia. The Census 2002 was taken after a year long delay, and for the first time, it wasn't conducted in the entire country. It was postponed in Montenegro for another year. So far, a census conducting was not planned in Kosovo and Metohija.According to the first results of the Census 2002, 5454950 persons lived in Central Serbia, and 2024487 in Vojvodina. At the same time, a total of 328795 inhabitants of Central Serbia and 67148 inhabitants of Vojvodina were at 'temporary' work/stay abroad. Compared to the previous census (1991), the population (in the country) of Central Serbia was decreased by 127,7 thousand or -2,3%, while the population of Vojvodina increased by 58,1 thousand or 3,0%. The number of persons 'temporary' abroad, compared to 1991, was significantly increased in Central Serbia (102,5 thousand or 45,3%) and Vojvodina (19,6 thousand or 41,3%). The total population (in country and abroad) of Central Serbia was 5783745, and in Vojvodina 2091635. In the intercensual period, the population of Central Serbia decreased by 25,2 thousand, and it increased by 77,7 thousand in Vojvodina. These dynamics are contrary to the dynamics in the previous intercensual period (1981-1991), when the number of inhabitants of Central Serbia was increased (114,4 thousand, 91,6 out of which was in the country) and of Vojvodina was decreased (by 20,9 thousand, 2,8 out of which was in the country).The second part of the article analyses the population dynamics of municipalities and settlements. In the intercensual period of 1991-2002, three quarters of municipalities (120 out of 161) and four fifths of settlements (3835 out 4705), there was a negative population growth rate. As a rule, these are municipalities and settlements with a relatively large share of refugees and IDPs.