Original scientific paper
Migration and Ageing of the Island Population – Five Stories from Iž
Sanja Klempić
; Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, Croatia
Sonja Podgorelec
; Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The paper analyses population development on the island of Iž during the period from 1857 to 2001, with special focus on the role that migration has on the ageing of the population. The processes that effected the demographic picture of the island during the twentieth century were high war loses in two world wars and continuous migration. Depopulation on Iž began in 1921 and has persisted until today. According to the last census, 557 persons live on the island, which is half the number that was registered in the first census. The dominant demo-reproduction processes are depopulation and ageing. All indicators in regard to the age structure show a very old population. At the same time, there is a strong return migration flow of persons that have received pensions after having worked elsewhere, which further increases the percentage of elderly in the overall population. Apart from analysis of the demographic data, the aim of the paper was also to determine the existing models of return migration, based on the example of several typical migration experiences. The authors attempted to illustrate the effect of migration on the life cycle of the Iž’s older population through five typical island stories, collected in October 2001 while interviewing persons 60 or more years of age. If a major change does not occur in regard to the present trend of emigration of the younger population (creation of jobs, revival of economic activities that have a future on the island etc.) and in the behaviour of younger islanders (both those living at present on the island and those living elsewhere) who would accept such new programmes, Iž will remain in the group of islands that is threatened by further ageing and depopulation.
Keywords
depopulation; ageing; emigration; return migration; pension migration
Hrčak ID:
107513
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2002.
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