Depopulation of Vis Island, Croatia

Rad razmatra populacijsku dinamiku otoka Visa te geografske, demografske i društvene značajke povezane s tim procesom. Podatci demografske statistike i rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da je na otoku Visu riječ o snažnoj populacijskoj regresiji. Taj je proces nastao početkom 20. stoljeća, a zahuktao se poslije drugoga svjetskog rata. Depopulacija je generirana zaostajanjem u društveno-gospodarskom razvoju, a izravno uzrokovana stoljetnim iseljavanjem. Početkom 1960-ih godina kao značajan čimbenik depopulacije javlja se i negativna prirodna promjena. Ona je rezultat odgođenog učinka iseljavanja, demografskih gubitaka u svjetskim ratovima i tranzicije nataliteta (promjene odnosa prema broju djece u obitelji). Dugotrajni nepovoljni demografski procesi (iseljavanje, depopulacija, demografsko starenje, smanjenje rodnosti), doveli su do slabljenja (bio)reproduktivne snage i vitalnog potencijala. Sve to odražava se i na dobni sastav. Populacija otoka Visa jako je ostarjela i pripada demografskom tipu – vrlo duboka starost. Depopulacija je, pak, prešla put od posljedice društvenih zbivanja do važnog čimbenika društvenih i prostornih procesa.The paper discusses population dynamics of Vis Island along with geographic, demographic and social features related to this process. Data from demographic statistics and research results show that Vis Island has been affected by strong populational regression. This process originated at the beginning of the 20th century, and intensified after the Second World War. Depopulation was generated by retardation in socio-economic development, but it was directly caused by centennial emigration. At the beginning of 1960s, natural decrease occurred as another important cause of depopulation. It was the result of postponed effect of emigration, demographic losses in world wars and birth rate transition (changes in number of children per family). Long-term unfavorable demographic processes (emigration, depopulation, demographic aging, reduced birth rates) have led to weakening of (bio)reproduction and vital potential. The above-mentioned fact has also influencedthe age structure of the population. Population of Vis Island has aged and belongs to a particular demographic type named very old population. However, depopulation, that used to be the result of social phenomena, has become an important factor of social and spatial processes