Population Demographics
i. Total Population- 149,327,331 million
ii. Birth Rate- 1.415 births per woman iii. Death Rate- 8.75 deaths/1,000 persons iv. Life Expectancy- Male (76.4) Female (79.2) Combined (77.8) v. Infant Mortality Rate- 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births vi. Total Fertility Rate- 1.44 births per woman vii. Literacy Rate- 97.93% viii. Rate of Natural Increase- 2.19 |
ix. The region of Southern Europe has been very slow to develop economically over the years. The areas surrounding the major cities are more likely than not highly industrialized, but the majority of remaining land in this subregion still revolves around agriculture. All of the nations in Southern Europe have somewhat benefited from the creation of the former European Economic Community (EEC) now known as the European Union (EU). It has become easier for these nations to export agricultural products and import other necessary resources. Not only has there been an improvement in trade, this subregion has also been able to compete with larger industrial economies. As the economy has developed and progressed so has the social status of women. Modern-day women in Europe have rebelled against the traditional ideology of male predominance. The status of women in Europe can be perceived as high when compared to other regions of the world due to the government's effort to integrate gender equality into society. Despite the many actions taken in hopes of bettering this situation, Southern European countries still exhibit male-dominant ideas.
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AlbaniaAlbania clearly exhibits signs of a rapid fertility reduction most likely due to the introduction of contraceptives and abortion to the country. The majority of the country's population is in between the ages of 20-29.
Stage 4- Population is declining, which can be tied to the present rapid expansion of jobs now occupied by females and women's education as well as improvements in child health and a lower infant mortality rate. The migration of people from rural communities into urban cities poses a potential risk of many environmental challenges. |
AndorraThe majority of Andorra's population is between the ages of 45-49, evidence of a possible "baby-boom" in the mid 70's. There was an astonishing drop in the number of babies being born with only about 14.74% of all of the country's population being below 14 years of age. All these factors point to the possibility of a population decline.
Stage 4- The drastic difference between those above the age of 30 and those below can create many future issues in regards to population. Many issues such as labor shortage and preference of a certain gender. With less people being born into the country, disproportionate aging is a very likely possibility for Andorra. It adds pressure on the government to handout more welfare and healthcare needs while also leaving |
CroatiaAlthough the population of Croatia has doubled in the last 150 years, it is low in comparison to other countries in this subregion. The population as a whole has increased, with a particularly high growth rate at the end of the 19th century, when it entered the very first phase of demographic transition.
Stage 4- Apart from the declining population, the current demographic trends of Croatia is much like those of the other members of Southern Europe. The ageing, natural depopulation, and spatial polarisation of the population could be, in the near future, the root cause for a possible GDP growth, labor force shortage, and an increase in the price for different types of labor. |
GreeceThe demographic profile of Greece is similar to that of other countries in this particular region. It exhibits a low birth rate and an increase in the proportion of elderly people to younger people. Fertility rates are continuously falling in Greece as more and more women decide to pursue their dreams.
Stage 4- Due to the decline in population, the people of Greece are facing some serious challenges. Economic hardship, rise in poverty, and government pressure to provide more welfare for the elderly are all potential risks that come with a loss in population number. |
ItalyIn this particular country, there has been a drop in the birthrate and total fertility rate due to the rather recent commonality of contraceptives. Amongst Italy's population, females take up the majority of the total population and overall have longer life expectancies.
Stage 4- The number of newborn babies born in Italy has fallen to a historic low. The number of babies born to both native Italians and immigrants in Italy has dramatically dropped , which was what was used to support the already low birth rate. Italy is already in its third recession and could potentially have to deal with rising pension payouts and healthcare costs for the elderly. |
MaltaThere seems to be larger concentrations of people within the age ranges of 50-69 as well as 20-39 with a visible dip between the two. A recent drop in birth rate and longer female life expectancies are also exhibited on this pyramid.
Stage 4- As a result of the decline in fertility and mortality levels, Malta has reported a decrease in fertility rates and a major improvement in life expectancy at birth. Although this can be seen as a positive these factors can lead to a population decline which can pose the future challenges of fewer care facilities, drops in estate prices, and/or disproportionate aging. |
Montenegro Montenegro's growth rate is relatively flat due to the decrease in the country's birth rate and total fertility rate. There is a very prominent gender imbalance with males clearly holding the upper hand in regards to which gender dominates the total population, although in the younger generations both male and female population are evening out.
Stage 4- Montenegro faces many challenges due to the astonishing gender imbalance within the country. There are many current issues such as unequal economic opportunities and male predominance which can either better through government action or worsen in the future. |
PortugalPortugal is clearly facing a steady decline in birthrates. The majority of this particular country's population is above the age of 35. Females around the age group of 45-49 begin to outnumber males.
Stage 4- The recent decrease in the number of births in Portugal has become so severe the government is considering closing a number of maternity wards nationwide. The gradual decline in the birth rate could further and create more issues concerning the economic fallout and debt crisis Portugal is currently facing. |
SerbiaThe growth in the population of Serbia grew astonishingly in the 1940's, most likely due to the baby boom following WW II. Females clearly dominate the composition of Serbia and have also contributed to the recent decline in the number of babies being born each year as shown on the pyramid.
Stage 4- The greatest and most difficult problem Serbia faces as of right now is how to stop the decline and extinction of the nation. With thousands leaving in hopes of better living standards, the country is suffering through a great population loss. Problems such as struggle to maintain infrastructure and care for its older citizens are all at risk for becoming a future challenge. |
SpainThe reduction of population is mainly due to the progressive increase of deaths within the country and the decrease of births every year. Both male and female genders are relatively balanced, neither overpowering the other in terms of amount. As the age group increases, the number of men in a particular age group decreases more than the number of females.
Stage 4- Spain has growing concerns about aging population and decrease in occupants. The combined efforts of its birth and death rate is what has caused the current challenge of an acceleration in the decrease of population. Recurrent recession and high unemployment is what encouraged people to seek better prospects abroad in western countries such as the US and posed many challenges such as insufficient labor force, shrinking elderly populations, and increasing burden on its social security system. |
The Former Yugoslav Republic of MacedoniaIncreased availability and use of integrated sexual and reproductive health services has lead to the extremely recent sharp drop in the birth rate. There is a gender imbalance in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in which there are more men than women.
Stage 3- The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has population and development patterns that include an ageing population, decreasing fertility, and migration which are all results of internal development within the country itself. Late marriages and careerism are just some of the reasons for the population growth decrease, which can cause many future challenges such as disproportionate ageing, government pressure to provide more welfare, and further altering of the age structure. |
Population Density Map
Population Distribution
Italy is the most populous country in the region, Spain following with the next highest population. Greece and Portugal also hold a significant amount of Southern Europe's population respectively. The lesser nations across the east coast of Italy such as Montenegro and Croatia contain substantially smaller populations. Most of the urban population, which is approximately 64.7%, is concentrated along the coast of this region. The rural population, which is estimated to be 35.3%, can be found further inland where the environment is more suitable for rural living.