DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL CHANGES IN SUBURBS OF KLAIPĖDA IN 2010–2017

Klaipėda is the third largest city in Lithuania, but its population is decreasing, while its suburbs are expanding and growing. This study reveals population migration to Klaipėda suburbs at the level of the smallest administrative unit – elderships. This helps with sufficient precision to identify not only the most attractive suburban residential areas, but also to determine the social-demographic problems faced by the local population. Due to uneven population change and structure, there is already a shortage of educational institutions and educators in some elderships. In the remote elderships from Klaipėda city, the population is rapidly aging, the unemployment rate is relatively higher than in other elderships, and the connection with the Klaipėda city by public transport is insufficient. Proposals for administrations of elderships and district municipalities are formulated taking into account the trends of population change. Comparative analysis, cartographic analysis, document analysis, expert interview method and others were applied in this study.Keywords: suburbs, eldership, Klaipėda, demographic and social changes.JEL codes: R12, R23, R28.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/rfds.v29i3.200