Depopulation in southern Europe : demographic dynamics and spatial patterns

Depopulation is feared by European and western countries as it often signals a society in decline. This paper will examine the question of depopulation, decline and demographic ageing in the countries of southern Europe at infra-national level. It will be divided into three parts. First, we will identify the regions affected by depopulation. We will then construct a typology of territories in demographic decline based on changes over time in population numbers by sex and by age group. Last, cartographic analysis will be used to verify whether the depopulation process follows a particular spatial logic.
This study will be based primarily on census data (age-sex structure) collected at various administrative levels in each country of the study region. We will also use base maps available at several infra-national levels. In addition, our theoretical knowledge of territorial grids and the associated problems (MAUP) will help us to establish our own grid and to avoid certain types of bias in our statistical and cartographic analysis.