Preview

GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY

Advanced search

Rural Population Dynamics in the Russian Extreme North IN 1989–2019: A Case Of Sakha Republic (Yakutia)

https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2020-137

Abstract

In this study, the specific characteristics of Yakutia’s rural population dynamics in 1989-2019 in comparison with other Extreme North regions are identified along with geographical differences in the population dynamics of the republic’s rural districts. The research results are based on the analysis of the official statistical data and field trip observations in rural areas of Yakutia. Sakha has witnessed a relatively small decline in total rural population compared to other regions, which can be explained by the high proportion of the indigenous population that has a historical preference for living in rural areas and higher birth rates as well as by the regional rural support measures. Despite the common overall trend in the rural population dynamics, significant intraregional differences have been identified. In the regions characterized by more central location and a larger share of the indigenous people, the population growth due to migration and the natural increase was observed, while in more remote northern locations with poor transport accessibility to the region’s centre population decreased due to migration outflow. A shift in rural population took place in the districts of Central Yakutia, historical settlement area of Yakuts, who are engaged in livestock and horse breeding, which are the traditional types of economic activities for this territory. The largest population decrease due to migration outflow was observed in Momsky and Zhigansky ulus, which are characterized by their northern location, poor transport accessibility and a smaller share of indigenous people.

About the Authors

Tamara V. Litvinenko
Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
29 Staromonetny pereulok, 119017, Moscow


Kazuhiro Kumo
Hitotsubashi University, Institute of Economic Research
Japan
Naka 2-1, Kunitachi, Tokyo 186-8603


Antonina N. Savvinova
M. K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University
Russian Federation
58 Belinskogo str., Yakutsk, 677007


Viktoriia V. Filippova
The Institute for Humanities Research and Indigenous Studies of the North, Siberian branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Petrovskogo str. 1, 677027, Yakutsk


References

1. Arctic Human Development Report: Regional Processes and Global Linkages (2014). Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers.

2. Khoreva O., Konchakov R., Leonard C.S., Tamitskiy A. (2018). Attracting skilled labour to the North: Migration loss and policy implications across Russia’s diverse Arctic regions, Polar Record, 5-6(54), 324-338.

3. Kumo K. and Litvinenko T. (2019). Post-soviet population dynamics in the Russian Extreme north: A case of Chukotka. Polar Science, 21, 58-67, DOI:10.1016/j.polar.2018.11.002.

4. Litvinenko T. and Kumo K. (2017). Post-soviet period changes in resource utilization and their impact on population dynamics in Chukotka autonomous okrug (Russia). Geography, Environment, Sustainability, 11(3), 66-86, DOI: 10.24057/2071-9388-2017-11-3-66-86.

5. Mostakhova T. (2015). Demographic aspects of rural development in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). ECO, 4(45), 138-143 (in Russian).

6. Mostakhova T. (2016). Geographical aspects of population development in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia): problems of territorial concentration and settlement. Natural resources of the Arctic and Subarctic, 2, 65-71 (in Russian with English summary).

7. Orttung R.W. ed. (2017). Sustaining Russia’s Arctic cities: resource politics, migration, and climate change. New York: Berghahn Books.

8. Ponomareva G. and Bubyakin V. (2013). Typology of rural settlements of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) by the size of the number of inhabitants (population). Economic analysis: theory and practice, 31(334), 56-62 (in Russian).

9. Prisyazhnyy M. (2011) Territorial organization of the economy of Yakutia. Spatial economics, 2, 33-53 (in Russian).

10. Sukneva S. and Mostakhova Т. (2002). Demographic development of the region: assessment, forecast, policy. Novosibirsk: Science (in Russian).

11. Sukneva S. (2010). Demographic development potential of the population of the Northern region. Novosibirsk: Science (in Russian).

12. Sukneva S., Mostakhova T., Barashkova S., Tumanova D., Elshina I. (2017). Demographic processes in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia): territorial aspect. Yakutsk: Sakhaada (in Russian).

13. Fedorova E. (1998). Population of Yakutia: Past and present (geodemographic study). Novosibirsk: Science (in Russian).

14. Savvinova A. and Filippova V. (2016). Historical mapping of traditional rural settlements of the indigenous peoples of the North from the 20th century to the beginning of 21st century (the case of Yakutia). Berichte Geographie und Landeskunde, 90(4), 327-338.


Review

For citations:


Litvinenko T.V., Kumo K., Savvinova A.N., Filippova V.V. Rural Population Dynamics in the Russian Extreme North IN 1989–2019: A Case Of Sakha Republic (Yakutia). GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2020;13(4):65-71. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2020-137

Views: 1152


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 2071-9388 (Print)
ISSN 2542-1565 (Online)