Regional development strategy - RDA South

REGIONAL PROFILEPopulation, Demographics, Human Resources and Labour Market22.210.0CHART 1:Average size of households and number of childrenper municipalitiesAverage size of households7.55.0Average numberof children2.5South in 2004 was 35.063 where 18.213 or 51,9%of the newborns were males and 16.850 or48,1% of the newborns were females.The average life expectancy in the EconomicRegion South in 2004 was about 61 years.There are significant differences (of 20 years)between municipalities of the region in termsof life expectancy. They figures vary fromabout 50 years for Municipality of Malisheva/Mališevo, up to 70 years in the Municipality ofDragash/Dragaš. In Prizren Municipality theaverage life expectancy is 65 years, in Rahovec/OrahovacMunicipality 61 years, whilein Suhareka/Suvareka municipality an averageof 60 years. There are no data the newestMunicipality of Mamusha/Mamuša. The significantdifferences can be attributed to suchenvironmental factors as the quality of waterand air, to historical factors and to the differencesin the quality of living conditions ingeneral.According to a major internationally sponsoredresearch ”The demographic, social andreproductive situation in Kosovo” in 2003,people aged up to 24 years of age constitutedsome 53% of the total number of residents. Inthe Region South the average share of theyoung population in the 15-29 years brackethas been 27,7%. The highest percentage shareof young population has been in the Municipalityof Dragash/Dragaš (32,3%). The lowestshare has been in the Municipality of Rahovec/Orahovac(only 14%) which may be anindication that a large number of young peopleleave the municipality to pursue education-relatedopportunities elsewhere. Interestingly,only Rahovec/Orahovac Municipalityhad 63% of the population in the 30-49 yearage group as compared to all other municipalitiesin the region that had a share of the same086420Dragash/DragašMalisheva/MališevoPrizrenCHART 2:Average size of households and number of childrenAverage sizeof householdsAverage forRegion SouthRahovec/OrahovacSuhareka/SuvarekaAveragefor KosovoDragash/DragašMalisheva/MališevoAverage numberof childrenAverage forRegion Southage group in the 22-24% range. It needs to bepointed out, however, that in the absence ofthe hard data from the population census, thedata above is quoted after the study mentioned.The data reflect the conditions prevailingin 2003 and their reliability is also unknown.As a result of the latest war and ethnic conflicts,the population of the Region underwentduring the most recent decade and ahalf some significant demographic and ethnicchanges. The development opportunity ofthe Region is to emerge from these changeswith the stronger society that is build on thefoundation of mutual tolerance and cooperation,particularly in the areas related to economicdevelopment. The population agestructure and overall growth over time is certainlyan economic asset of the region but, atthe same time, it is also compounding challengesthe region will face in the areas of educationand employment generation.PrizrenRahovec/OrahovacSuhareka/SuvarekaAveragefor KosovoREGIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE ECONOMIC REGION SOUTH11