Demographic Limits to Sustainable Development of Mountain Regions in Serbia - Sustainable Development in Mountain Regions: Southeastern Europe - page 177

Table 14.2 Sex ratio of the population aged 20-39 years according to its geographi cal location

Males/Females

Area Urban Rural Total

The 2002 Census Plains 0.955 1.072 0.999

Mountains 0.959 1.130 1.036

The 2007 LSMS Plains 0.911 1.116 0.981

Mountains 1.039 1.136 1.079

Sources: Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia ( 2003a ); World
Bank ( 2007 ).

of the group confirming what the 2002 Census already indicated by aging index
(Table 14.1 ). Comparison of the two surveys shows the increase of young male sur-
plus in rural zones of the Plains while towns in mountain regions started to have
lack of females of reproductive ages. This clearly confirms accumulation of young
women in urban centers of the Plains which reflects even in the difference between
the Plains and the Mountains for sex ratio of the group irrespective of settlement
type. The sex ratio of those aged 20-39 at regional level (NUTS 2) gives a more pre-
cise look at the spatial distribution of the indicator inside the two basic geographical
areas (Table 14.3 ).
Belgrade city has the biggest surplus of young females in the country. Compared
to the other five regions, it is obvious that the capital represents the most attrac-
tive destination of internal migration flows. It can be noted that only Central Serbia
(according to the 2002 Census) and East Serbia (according to the 2007 LSMS) has
female surplus of the group. In the former case it can be explained by the fact that
Central Serbia belongs to the Plains given the distinction adopted in the chapter,
and in the latter by the traditional emigration flow to the West European countries—
“citizens working abroad” (consisted mainly of males), which was most typical for

Table 14.3 Sex ratio (males/females) of the population aged 20-39 years according to NUTS 2
level

The 2002 Census The 2007 LSMS

NUTS 2 level Urban Rural Total Urban Rural Total

Belgrade City 0.931 1.029 0.948 0.821 1.062 0.857

Vojvodina 0.990 1.074 1.024 0.986 1.043 1.009

Central Serbia 0.940 1.067 0.998 1.054 1.153 1.096

West Serbia 0.931 1.108 1.031 1.124 1.181 1.156

East Serbia 0.976 1.096 1.031 0.844 1.082 0.948

Southeast Serbia 0.968 1.134 1.044 0.932 1.269 1.064

Sources: Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia ( 2003a ); World
Bank ( 2007 ).