Rural Settlements in Yugoslavia: their Number, Spatial Distribution and Structure by Demographic Size

The paper analyzes rural settlements in the FR of Yugoslavia and its major· regions (Montenegro, central Serbia, Vojvodina, as well as Kosovo and Metohia): their number and structure by demographic size in 1991 relative to 1948 (at the level of major regions), as well as the average size and density of population in 1991 (at the level of communes). The analysis presented shows а continued gradual process of differentiation of settlements, not only bу the main social and historical differentiation (rural - urban) but also within the settlement category with rural characteristics. This differentiation was caused not only bу the physical and geographical specifics and the inherited social and historical characteristics, but also bу very significant changes in the main population flows (process of depopulation, spatial and demographic polarization, etc.). The above differences are less pronounced in Vojvodina and in Kosovo and Мetohia, and more in Montenegro and central Serbia. The common feature of rural settlements in all four mајоr regions (the absolute majority of communes in the FR of Yugoslavia), in the period from 1948 to 1991, is а strong upward tendency in population decline due to long-term migratory movements and unfavorable trends in natural movement (rapid decline in fertility and increase in mortality), except in the majority of communes in Kosovo and Metohia. This has, among other things, led to а very rapid increase in the number of small (dwarf) rural settlements, most of which are under threat of demographic extinction, as well as to а pronounced decline in the population size of а growing number of rural settlements, which is likely to continue in the near future.