Dynamics of the population in the Lithuanian border regions in 1959-1997. 2. Population and density dynamics in the municipal economic sub-units in the border regions

In 1959-1997 the population decreased in 61 municipal sub-unit out of 85 (71,8%) and increased only in 24 (Fig.5). The intensity of the population dynamics was very uneven. The contrasting dynamics of the population in the opposite directions - dramatical decrease in most of sub-units and dramatical increase in some of them - was a characteristic feature of border zone sub-units. The reates of population growth in the border zone sub-units were higher than in the more remote sub-units. Yet, the depopulation process in the border region municipal sub-units was very intensive and included two thirds of the sub-units territory. On the micro level (85 municipal sub-units of border region) the population density varied considerably in time and space. In 1997 the average density in the territories of sub-units was 32.3 per square kilometer, but in comparison with 1959 the density by sub-unit was more contrasting. Differences of social-economic development predetermined the uneven distribution of population density in sub-unitsGeologijos ir geografijos institutasVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŠvietimo akademij