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According to the Department of Statistics, the total population of Lithuania increased by more than a thousand last year. An estimated 2 million people lived in Lithuania at the beginning of this year. 795.2 thousand permanent residents.
Although the total population has increased, the fact that in some areas the population is declining rapidly does not give professionals peace of mind. The Statistics Department reports that last year saw the largest decrease in the number of permanent residents in Pagėgiai. There, the population fell 3.4 percent.
In Ignalina district, the number of permanent residents decreased by 2.9%, in Skuodas district, by 2.5%, and in Kelmė and Pakruojis districts, the number of permanent residents decreased by 2 , 4% each.
Experts note that the population in smaller areas has been declining for some time. The country’s population is moving to larger areas, living there more comfortably, attracted by higher wages and better career opportunities.
However, it is also notable that if the numbers continue to fall, small areas are in danger of being drastically reduced and the livelihoods of the rest of the areas may be more decoupled.
Looking for better conditions
Experts note that people who leave districts often seek better living conditions. The smaller districts lack some services, it is more difficult for them to get a job, there are no big companies.
The economist Marius Dubnikov mentions three main reasons why this population migration takes place in the country.
“First of all, the relocation opportunities are quite high, because we live in a small country and the economic differences between the central cities and the Lithuanian periphery are really great. One part is that the distances are not great. This means that a young person who has moved can return to his parents almost every day at any time and can visit their home, which he leaves.
The second is economical. The pay gap is obvious and encourages people.
The third is the quantity and quality of the services received. Of course, it is much more fun to work remotely in that area during a pandemic, if there is such an opportunity, but after the pandemic it is easier to get services and entertainment and eventually health services, which are relevant to people. greater. people in big cities. This means that the appeal is growing there, ”says M. Dubnikov on tv3.lt.
The number of services is decreasing
As one of the biggest problems of the districts, the specialists point out the amount of services. Smaller districts often lack quality education or health care facilities, forcing residents to relocate to other districts to seek these services.
Vytautas Magnus University demographer Daumantas Stumbrys emphasizes that it becomes unfeasible for young people to stay in smaller districts, so when children are young, young families often move elsewhere.
“We have very clear differences in education indicators. If I am someone who cares about the future of my children, I have an education, I will consider which school I should take my children to. Should I stay in a rural school or at least in the center of the region, if I don’t move, it will be 30 km ”, thinks D. Stumbrys.
The abandonment of smaller areas is also driven by a lack of medical care. Small areas often lack the necessary doctors, and healthcare facilities are often extremely small.
“How long does an express take? You should look at the statistics, but in big cities it comes very fast. And as for how long it takes to get to the periphery, you assess yourself when faced with those problems,” says D. Stumbrys.
There are also no large businesses in the smaller districts, encouraging residents to look for work and then move.
According to Apolonijus Žilys, a sociologist at Vytautas Magnus University, when looking for ways to solve the problem of lack of services, one is often faced with the question of whether it is worth taking further action.
“The attractiveness of the regions is promoted through a network of public services. Sometimes it is difficult to attract the same doctors if there is not a good school, cultural activities or travel. This is a discussion about all that package in recent times. How rational is it to keep 15 children in school, but on the other hand, how much should be transported? ”- tv3.lt comments A. Žilys.
Living is more and more expensive
The lack of services often also means that residents have to pay more for services. For example, access to these educational or healthcare facilities has an additional cost.
Romas Lazutka, professor of economics at Vilnius University, says that it is often said in society that it is cheaper to live in the countryside. This approach surprises the economist.
According to him, living cheaper in the countryside is only possible by refusing certain services, and sometimes living in a small area can become more expensive. For example, there are cases where products cost more in local stores in smaller areas.
“If you don’t use certain services, if you don’t have central heating or a bathroom inside, it’s clear that you don’t have to pay for water if you bring it from a well. Do not use public transportation or some of the so-called beauty services, it does not cost.
But for those where you cannot do it and have to use it, it is so notorious that even in stores the surcharge is imposed because there are not many customers and some costs or expenses are fixed. Whether there are many or few such buyers, costs do not decrease as a result, ”says R. Lazutka on tv3.lt.
The economist Dubnikov also points out that in some areas the prices of some taxes can go up: “There are areas like central heating, it can start to rise in price as the number of consumers decreases and the fixed costs are maintained. It costs the same to maintain a boiler room ”.
You will have to look for solutions
When asked what the future holds for small districts, experts unanimously say: the state will have to intervene, districts will have to find ways to survive, but there is no need to wonder about ongoing processes. Residents around the world are doing the same, gathering in larger areas.
The economist Dubnikov says that districts that want to survive should look for ways to attract people.
“They have to find their unique face, as Ignalina herself mentioned, it is a very attractive character for tourism. It is possible that cities further away from central cities become a second home for recreation and vacations for people ”, says M. Dubnikov.
The economist also adds that the regeneration of the districts will require creativity.
“There are many possibilities to conserve cities, you just have to look creatively. Not to create a platform infrastructure, but a faster Internet infrastructure or similar things that allow people to work on their daily work in nature,” he says. M. Dubnikov.
According to data from the Department of Statistics, in 2021. At the beginning of the year, 1 million people lived in Lithuanian cities. 885.9 thousand (67.5%) of the population, in the town – 909.3 thousand. (32.4%)
2020 At the beginning of the 19th century, there were 1 million 882.5 thousand (67.4%) permanent residents of the country, in rural areas – 911.6 thousand. (32.6 percent)
2009-2019 The number of permanent residents decreased by 11.4% in urban areas and 13.7% in rural areas.
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