Migration process in small towns of Latvia Maris Berzins PhD 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 changes in Latvia

Settlement system in Latvia

Population changes by settlement system

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 Flows: Average data

Net migration in Latvia,

Small towns in Latvia

Net migration of population in small towns by region,

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

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 population working-age main reasons for moving

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

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