CONFERENCEPopulation Composition and Migration Patterns in the Riga agglomeration
Janis Krumins
University of Latvia, Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences
DOI: 10.22364/fg.16.10
Keywords: geographical mobility, internal migration, population composition, Riga agglomeration
Abstract
Geographical mobility plays a significant role in forcing changes in population numbers. It also affects formation and composition of the population of Latvia. This research sheds light on how specific demographic characteristics of population composition affect the mobility behaviour of the external and internal zone of the Riga metropolitan area. Both zones have been chosen for research because suburbs can be considered as typical areas where the highest mobility and more intense changes in settlement structure and population composition are characteristic. 2011 Population Census data have been used to assess the connection between geographical mobility (mobile vs immobile residents) and the development of population composition, where demographic characteristics such as age, gender and education level are considered. The main results of this research suggest that demographic characteristics are significant determinants of the mobility behaviour. Therefore, 1) males, 2) younger residents, 3) Latvians, and 4) those with the higher education, are more inclined to engage in the process of internal migration to the suburbs.