POMURSKA - Population
A slight population decline
In 2002, the region's population numbered 123 900 (6.2% of the total Slovene population). Despite extensive plains, the region is relatively sparsely settled (92.7 people per km2). The majority of the population lives in the plains where in some areas population density exceeds 200 people per km2, while in hilly areas it ranges between 30-70 people per km2.
Since 1990 the population has been decreasing persistently, resulting in a decline of 5.9% in the period between 1990 and 2002. The main reason for this decline are the decline in the number of births and the biggest natural fall of population among all regions. The contribution of migration to the decline of the population is negligible since migratory flows are very weak. Nevertheless, the migration balance in Pomurska during the 1990s has mostly been negative.
Although the percentage of people over the age of 65 is slightly above the national average in Pomurska, their number is increasing more slowly than in other parts of Slovenia. The percentage of people under the age of 25 is slightly below the national average, however this decline is at a faster rate than the national average. Moreover, with 9.4 deaths per births in 2002, the infant mortality in the region was the highest in the country.
In the border municipalities of Goricko with Austria and Hungary the demographic situation is of particular concern, as the average age of the population is among the highest in Slovenia and approximately one fifth of the total population is over 65.
Apart from Slovenes, around 5 500 members of the Hungarian minority live in the eastern part of the plain around Lendava and in the villages of eastern Goricko. The cultural centre of this minority, whose rights are guaranteed by the constitution, is Lendava (Lendva). Hungarian is (together with Slovenian) an official language in municipalities settled by the Hungarian minority. 87% of all Hungarians in Slovenia live in Pomurska. Gypsies live in several villages in the central part of the region.
Compared to other regions, very few people migrated to Pomurska from other parts of former Yugoslavia after World War II. Therefore, only 2.3% of the region's population were of non-Slovene or non-Hungarian origin according to the 2002 census.
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