Demographic Shifts and the Residential Preferences of Young Adults in a Post-Socialist Context: The Case of Slovakia

Slovakia is experiencing population ageing, declining fertility, and structural changes in the spatial distribution of young adults. This study examines demographic shifts among individuals aged 20–40 between 2011 and 2022 and evaluates how these trends align with the stated residential preferences of young adults. Using administrative data from the Slovak Social Insurance Company covering more than three million employed individuals, the study involved analyzing changes in population size, gender composition, employment, and housing type across urban cores, commuter zones, micropolitan centers, and rural municipalities. The research concentrates on the age group of 20–40-year-olds, as it is pivotal in terms of economic activity and child-rearing. The results were compared with long-term qualitative research on housing, family, and work preferences derived from the student essays collected since 2011. The findings reveal a substantial decline of the 20–40-year-old population, particularly in urban centers and socialist-era housing estates, alongside a relative demographic stability in commuter zones and selected rural areas. Gender imbalances persist, with the female-dominated urban regions and male-dominated rural areas influencing local fertility patterns. Overall, the findings show a persistent preference for suburban, low-density housing – characterized by detached housing and access to private outdoor spaces. These preferences remain stable across analyzed generations Y and Z) and are in contrast with the prevailing planning agendas that prioritize compact cities and inner-city densification. The main contribution of this research is its empirical challenge to the widely held assumption, common in urban economics and spatial planning, that demographic change among young adults necessarily reinforces urban concentration. The study concludes that housing and spatial policies should better reflect demographic realities and residential aspirations in an ageing post-socialist society.