IMPROVEMENT OF SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE IN RURAL AREAS IN SERBIA – POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

Rural areas occupy more than a half territory of the Republic of Serbia, and they are home for more than 50% of total population. These areas are very diverse due to different topographic structure, settlements within them emerged mainly spontaneous - adjusting to the existing terrain. Settlements in rural areas have very vibrant history and the influence of different cultures left marks on their current structure. In Serbia, rural areas are characterized with low population density, inadequate access to main public services, lack of communal infrastructure, low income and mainly agriculture-oriented economy. One of the biggest problems that rural areas are facing is certainly unfavorable sociodemographic structure due to constant depopulation process and low quality of life.
Starting from the assumption that rural population represents one of the biggest rural resources, this paper discusses possibilities and challenges for improvement of sociodemographic structure in rural areas in Serbia. Within this paper, first the current state of rural areas is analyzed and key development problems and possibilities are determined. Then, the examples of positive practice of implemented projects in rural areas in Europe are presented in order to illustrate possibilities for improvement of socio-demographic structure. Based on these findings, the aim of this paper is to propose possibilities for improvement of socio-demographic structure in rural areas. It is concluded that sociodemographic structure has influence on all other structures of rural areas and that its improvement is important for overall rural development.