Original scientific paper
A "Demographic Peninsula" in Croatia - Fertility Features of the Drava-region Based on the Hungarian Census in 1910
Gabor Harrach
; Budapest, Hungary
Abstract
The aim of this research was to explore the reasons of the differences between fertility rates in the region around the Croat–Hungarian border at the beginning of the 20th century. The data applied during the examination are based on the Hungarian census in 1910. Areas having similar fertility rates are named as "demographic regions". Counties in Croatia along the driver Drava have high rates, except a "demographic peninsula", Bjelovar-Križevci county, which interrupts this geographical continuity. Bjelovar's fertility is similar to the Hungarian counties' at the opposite side of the river. During the research I examined 252 settlements, describing the exact geographical extension of the "peninsula" mentioned before, naming the concrete settlements (under 35‰ birth rate) belonging to this region. Examination of the possible reasons of demographical differences leads to the conclusion that the denominational and ethnic proportions can be coherent with the fertility rates in some districts, but they cannot explain the larger territorial deviations. For example, Varaždin and Northern-Zagreb make an absolutely homogeneous area in ethnic and enominational respect, with high fertility. Virovitica, Požega and Southern-Zagreb counties make a multicultural area with high fertility too. However a linear regression analysis indicates a correlation between the proportion of Roman Catholics and the birth rates in the Hungarian settlements examined.
Keywords
Historical demography; fertility rate; birth rate; ethnics and denominations
Hrčak ID:
77426
URI
Publication date:
1.11.2011.
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