Banija and Sisak record a continuous decline in population from the first census in Croatia in
1991 to the present day. The decline has been influenced by several factors, such as
migration, low birth rates, a high proportion of elderly population and poor economic
development. Throughout history, emigration has been influenced by the Turkish invasions
and the Military Frontier, but most significantly by the Croatian War of Independence in the
1990s and the earthquake in 2020. Banija is a border region that historically had a
predominantly Serbian ethnic minority population. Its representatives emigrated from the area
mainly during and after the war, leaving a significant demographic mark on the region. The
breakup of Yugoslavia and the economic transition led to the collapse of the local economy
and industrial plants, which employed a large part of the population. Over the years, people
mainly migrated to the more economically developed countries of the European Union and
the rest of Croatia. Despite certain initiatives, development plans and post-earthquake
reconstruction, which has not yet been completed, not enough is being invested in Banija and
Sisak. As a result, the area is still undergoing negative demographic trends, with young people
emigrating, rural settlements emptying out, local economy stagnating or regressing, and the
region lacking a thorough and effective demographic renewal plan.
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