ZAGREB, Dec 14 (Hina) - The last population census conducted in Serbia in 2002 shows that the country, excluding the southern UN-administered province of Kosovo, has a population of 7,498,001, or nearly 51,000 less than in 1991,
according to a report by Nada Raduski from the Belgrade-based Institute of Social Sciences.
ZAGREB, Dec 14 (Hina) - The last population census conducted in
Serbia in 2002 shows that the country, excluding the southern UN-
administered province of Kosovo, has a population of 7,498,001, or
nearly 51,000 less than in 1991, according to a report by Nada
Raduski from the Belgrade-based Institute of Social Sciences. #L#
The report, entitled "Ethnic Picture of Serbia - the 2002 Census",
was published in the latest issue of the Croatian journal on
migrations and ethnic-related topics "Migracijske i etnicke
teme".
Serbs account for 82.9 per cent of Serbia's population. There are
6,212,838 of them, or 171,984 more than in the 1991 census. They are
followed by Hungarians, who account for 3.9 per cent, Bosniaks and
Muslims 2.1 per cent, Roma 1.4 per cent, and Yugoslavs 1.1 per
cent.
All other ethnic groups individually account for less than one per
cent.
Croats account for 0.94 per cent (70,602 people) as opposed to 1991
when there were 94,066 of them, or 1.24 per cent.
The number of Croats dropped the most in the northern province of
Vojvodina, where 56,546 people identified themselves as Croats at
the 2002 census as opposed to 72,394 in 1991.
Raduski said that the main reason for this, other than a negative
average growth rate, was a migration to Croatia "because of the
political situation and inter-ethnic clashes in the period between
the last two censuses."
19,766 people declared themselves as "Bunjevci" -- an ethnic group
that arrived in Vojvodina from Dalmatia, Herzegovina and Lika in
12th century and is regarded as part of the ethnic Croatian
community -- or 1,455 fewer than in 1991.
In central Serbia, there are 7,616 fewer Croats than in the early
1990s. According to the 1991 census, there were 21,672 Croats
living there and according to the last, 14,056.
The 2002 census was conducted only in Central Serbia and Vojvodina.
It was postponed in Montenegro and is expected to be carried out in
Kosovo after the expiry of the mandate of the UN mission.
(hina) vm