Migration process in small towns of Latvia

Maris BerzinsPhD student

University of Latvia

The aim of the paper is to characterize the emerging social demographic changes. The research emphasizes the migration processes in small towns

Process of migration is important in shaping the economic life, infrastructure and providing eligible living conditions for each territory, either in scale of small towns

Introduction

Data and research methods

Population Census data 1989, 2000

Demographic statistical data

Survey data from of the Project “The Geographic Mobility of the Labour Force”

Quantitative data analyses

Interviews with experts

Demographic changes in Latvia

Population change components

-1.7%

-2.2%

-1.6%

-1.2%

-1.0%-1.0%-0.9%

-0.7% -0.7% -0.8%-0.6% -0.6%-0.5% -0.5%

-0.6%-0.4%

-70 000

-60 000

-50 000

-40 000

-30 000

-20 000

-10 000

0

10 000

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Natural increase Net migration

Resident population in Latvia

2 668 140

2 306 434

2 100 000

2 200 000

2 300 000

2 400 000

2 500 000

2 600 000

2 700 000

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Population changes in Latvia

Settlement system in Latvia

Population changes by settlement system

%

-9.3

-7.1

-4.5

-20.9

-8.7 -4.0 -2.2 -14.8

-3.8-3.0

-4.0

-10.9

-4.9 -2.0 -4.6 -11.6

7.0

-11.6

-5.0

-9.5

-2.8 -2.0

-3.2

-8.0

-6.3-4.8

-3.2

-14.2

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

1990/1995 1995/2000 2000/2005 1990/2005

capital city - Rīga

major cities

towns - district centres

medium sized towns

small towns

rural settlements

Latvia

Internal migration

Depopulation is ongoing in Latvia, with population numbers shrinking not just because of negative net migrations, but also of negative natural growth

Over the last years, between 30,000 and 50,000 people in Latvia have been involved in internal migration each year. This reflects socio-economic processes in the country, including the consequences of uneven territorial development in the country

There are regional aspects to the distribution of residents across the territory and to the process of migration. Over the last few years, there has been a distinct concentration of people in the agglomeration of Rīga

Amount and main flows of internal migration

54 4

3760 4

91

62 8

29

31 4

13

31 7

82

34 9

89

36 9

83

38 7

29

39 2

19

39 3

65

39 2

66

1.6% 1.6% 1.6% 1.6%1.5%

1.5%1.3% 1.3%

2.7%2.6%

2.4%

0

10 000

20 000

30 000

40 000

50 000

60 000

70 000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Flows of internal migration

7 434

14 520

15 222

17 992

13.5%

26.3%

27.6%

32.6%

0 2 000 4 000 6 000 8 000 10 000 12 000 14 000 16 000 18 000 20 000

rural - rural

urban - rural

rural - urban

urban - urban

Flows:Average data

2003-2006

Net migration in Latvia, 2003-2006

-1.1%

6.2%

1.8%

-3.1%

-1.5%

-2.5%-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

Net migration, %

Rīga region

Pierīga region

Vidzeme region

Kurzeme region

Zemgale region

Latgale region

-1.1%

0.3%

5.9%

0.4%

-0.2%

-5.3%-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

Net migration, %

capital city - Rīga

major cities

towns - district centres

medium sized towns

small towns

rural settlements

Small towns in Latvia

Net migration of population in small towns by region,2003-2006

statistical regions

-500

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

Pierīga region Vidzeme region Latgale region Zemgale region Kurzeme region

small towns

num

ber

Rīga region

Pierīga region

Vidzeme region

Kurzeme region

Zemgale region

Latgale region

Net migration of population in small towns by another levels of settlement system, 2003-2006

-1000

-500

0

500

1000

1500

2000

net migration

nu

mb

er

capital city - Rīga

major cities

towns - district centres

medium sized towns

rural settlements

Main features of internal migration in Latvia concerning with small towns

Migrant flows over the last years show that most migrants in Latvia’s regions, except Riga city, moved within the borders of the relevant region

Those who migrated to capital city Rīga most often came from the capital metropolitan area (32%), while those who migrated to the small towns of metropolitan area mostly came from Rīga itself (65%)

These are not new trends – the proportion of inter-regional migration has been declining, while migration involving Rīga and its metropolitan area is on the rise.

Survey of populationworking-age

37%

17%6%

29%

11%

Family reasons Work

Studies Next place of residence will be better

Purchase or construction of property

main reasons for moving

22%

19%

10%

28%

21%

Family reasons Work

Studies Next place of residence will be better

Purchase or construction of property

Conclusions

Approximately half of today’s small towns own their urban status on the soviet period and the process of industrialisation as a part of a planned national economy. It promoted rapid growth of inhabitants into small towns

Today the migration processes are connected to the restructuring of the economy, social economic processes, administrative territorial reform and everyday expectation of people

There are regional differences in small town group itself. More attractive for migrants are small towns in capital surroundings

Small towns attract rural inhabitants as well residents from capital city. Net migration in peripheral areas do not compensate natural decrease of inhabitants in small towns

Thank You