Regional Differentiation and Prognosis of Population Ageing in Nuts 3 Regions of V4 Countries by Using Cluster Analysis

Abstract

Population ageing in the European area represents one of the most significant processes of the 21st century. In the paper, we have focused on the assessment of ageing through multivariate statistical methods, the method of cluster analysis namely. We evaluated the NUTS 3 regions of the V4 countries that in geographical works have not been explored from this point of view, while focusing on the 2017 – 2021 period and comparing it also with the year 2050. The paper is aimed in pointing out the population ageing in the NUTS 3 regions of Visegrad Group (V4) countries, its impact on the demographic situation in these countries, but also in outlining the trends and prognoses of further development. After the clusters had been created, it was possible to point out the regions with unfavourable demographic development manifesting signs of population ageing and those with favourable demographic development with signs of population rejuvenation. While population ageing will be more intense in Poland and Slovakia, the process will slightly slow down in the Czech Republic and Hungary. New knowledge was obtained using the methods of analysis, synthesis, statistical, graphic and cartographic tools.