Population Density in Serbia, 2015

Population Density in Serbia, 2015

Population Density serves as a benchmark for population (de)concentration in an area. It shows population distribution in Serbia. The population density grid for 2015 is calculated by dividing the population count grid (GHS-POP R2019A - GHS population grid multitemporal [European Commission, Joint Research Center, 2019]) by the land area grid. It represents number of inhabitants per square kilometre. In order to monitor the tendencies of population dynamics in Serbia, the classification of the territory according to the indicator values was conducted: 0–8 inh./km$^2$ (SPT – very sparsely populated rural areas), 8 –20 inh./ km$^2$ (sparsely populated rural areas), 20–50 inh./km$^2$ (rarely populated rural areas), 50–100 inh./km$^2$(moderately populated rural areas), 100–150 inh./km$^2$ (densely populated rural areas), 150–300 inh./km$^2$ (urban areas) and more than 300 inh./km$^2$ (densely populated urban areas). Furthermore, densely populated urban areas are classified additionally: 300–500 inh./km$^2$, 500–1000 inh./km$^2$, 1000–2000 inh./km$^2$, 2000–4000 inh./km$^2$, 4000–8000 inh./km$^2$, 8000–10000 inh./km$^2$ and more than 10000 inh./km$^2$. The intention is to determine which parts of Serbia are the most affected by transformation, whether they are caused by a significant population increase or decline (depopulation).

There are zones of increased concentration, delimited by the Peri-Pannonian realm, the Belgrade region, and the Velika, Zapadna and Južna Morava development zones. Urban areas and frequent traffic routes have been identified as zones of population concentration. Low population density is typical of peripheral parts of Serbia, which are exposed to continuous and intense negative demographic trends. Among them, there are zones of depopulation and depressive development.

Population Density on the Built-Up Area (PDB) in Serbia, 2015

The second variant of population concentration is defined in relation to lot coverage, which also indicates the type of construction. Two sets of data were used to calculate it: GHS-POP R2019A - GHS population grid multitemporal [European Commission, Joint Research Center, 2019] and GHS-BUILT R2018A - GHS built-up grid, derived from Landsat, multitemporal (1975-1990-2000-2014) [European Commission, Joint Research Center, 2018]. High values of the indicator reveal densely populated urban areas with collective housing as the dominant type, while low values illustrate the individual type of family construction, indirectly revealing demographic shrinking. In general, the Peri-Pannonian realm, Mačva, Šumadija, Kosovo and Metohija, and especially large cities and regional centres, are characterised by a significant population concentration in the built-up area. The highest values of the indicator are associated with suburban areas and they indicate the formation of a residential tissue on the outskirts of urban settlements and along access roads. In Vojvodina, a fairly homogeneous population density is observed in the built-up areas acting as settlement centres, which is partly due to the housing tradition and the genesis of the settlement. Eastern and southwestern Serbia has the smallest share of built-up areas, which appear as hotspots, due to the relief and the morphological type of settlements, but also in a relationship with historical events and the inherited settlement network.

<aside> 📝 Indicator values that are missing for the municipalities of Preševo and Bujanovac are a consequence of limitations in the used data source.

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<aside> *️⃣ All references to Kosovo shall be understood in full compliance with UNSC Resolution 1244 (1999).

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This web site has been produced with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) support, within the Depopulation Data Challenge Call. The contents of this site are the sole responsibility of the team “Geoanalitičari” and do not necessarily reflect the views of UNDP, UNFPA, nor GIZ.