THE MAIN TRENDS ASSESSMENT OF SMALL TOWNS’ SOCIAL-DEMOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENT IN TRANSCARPATHIA

The article highlights the main trends of social and demographic processes in small towns and villages of the Transcarpathian oblast. On the basis of a retrospective analysis, a comprehensive assessment of the key parameters characterizing the demographic development of the urban population has been carried out. Special attention is paid to the analysis of population dynamics and natural population movement. The trends of changes in the sex-age structure of the population by individual age groups have been analyzed. On the basis of the identified spatial differences in the dynamics of natural population growth, a cluster analysis and ranking of urban settlements has been carried out according to the nature of their demographic processes, the type of population reproduction and prospects for the formation and development of social and labor potential. The need for a targeted approach to the implementation of demographic policy measures in each of the three formed clusters is substantiated. A comparative characterization of the structure of the younger and older working-age population was made. The factors that generate the depopulation of the urban population have been identified, and suggestions for minimizing their impact on the development of the human potential of small towns and villages in the region have been substantiated.