Living Standards Measurements Study - Serbia 2002 - 2007

3. DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
POPULATION
In this chapter we underline the basic
demographic characteristics of the population by
comparing results from LSMS 2002, 2003 and 2007
and analyse trends.
3.1. Age and gender
Gender and age, as primarily biological
characteristics, represent the determinants of many
demographic and social phenomena. Considering
their strong empirical links, data on gender and age
are examined together.
The population distribution according to
gender in 2007 (48.2 percent male compared to 51.8
percent female) has changed only slightly compared
to 2003 (48.3 percent male compared to 51.7
percent female) in favour of females, which is to be
expected, since the process in question is a longterm
demographic process of a gradual increase in
the representation of women in societies with a high
average age (Table 1). Men are prevalent in the
youngest age groups (0-14 and 15-29 years of age).
There are more women than men starting at
the 30-44 age group and continuing to the oldest
group (60+) where the proportion of females is
considerably higher (56.2 percent compared to 43.8
percent). The proportion of women in the
population is continually growing which is a
characteristic of many European countries. 1
The age structure of the population in 2007 has
not changed significantly to that of 2003, except in
the age groups 45-59 and 60+ (Table 2). The
proportion of these age groups in 2007 is practically
in inverse proportion to their proportion in 2003.
The 45 – 59 year olds took over the primary
position from those aged 60+ owing to the new
generations born after World War Two - during the
so called baby boom (1948-1957). Also, the
addition of the age cohort born during World War
Two (1943-1945), i.e. the “incomplete” generation,
to the oldest population group decreased its levels
compared to 2003. Having this in mind, it is not
surprising there is larger proportion of people of 45-
49 years of age than those aged 60+.
The situation according to region is changing
because, except for the City of Belgrade and
Vojvodina, the majority of people in other regions
are elderly. Almost every fourth person in these
regions is aged over 60. In East Serbia the oldest
cohort accounts for 26.7 percent of the population.
This region, with a low birth rate, is in the phase of
deep old-aging, a dominant characteristic of Serbia,
which has one of the oldest populations in Europe.
A burning issue in Serbia is, without doubt, the
ageing of the population. In the total number of
households more than a half has at least one
member aged 65 years and over, showing the
accelerated process of demographic ageing.
Furthermore, the proportion of households with
persons of 65 and over is far greater in rural than in
urban areas (51.4 percent in villages compared to
34.7 percent in towns) demonstrating the impact on
the rural age structure in Serbia caused by the longterm
and uncontrolled migration of young, educated
people.
Table 3.1. Population distribution by gender and age (percent)
Total
2007
Age
Poverty line
2003 2007 0-14 15-29 30-44 45-59 60+ Above Below
Men 48.3 48.2 51.0 50.5 49.1 48.1 43.8 48.2 47.9
Women 51.7 51.8 49.0 49.5 50.9 51.9 56.2 51.8 52.1
44 Living Standards Measurements Study - Serbia 2002 - 2007