Urban Sustainability in Serbia: Sustainable for whom?

Abstract

The issue of urban sustainability and sustainable management of cities has become an important topic. On the one hand, urbanization and the expansion of larger metropolitan areas are expected to increase in the future, while other regions and cities are simultaneously shrinking. For the first time in Serbia, the “Program for Sustainable Urban Development until 2030” is adopted with the requirements for sustainable urban planning. The main issues of urban development focus on sustainable economic development, urban settlement planning, social well-being, environmental quality and urban development management. However, the complex spatial-demographic and socioeconomic changes during the post-socialist transition have determined the demographic development of urban settlements in Serbia towards shrinkage. At the beginning of the 21st century, the total population of cities in Serbia has slightly increased, but disproportions in population development between urban settlements have deepened, leading to urban polarization. As a result, more than 80% of urban settlements are shrinking. None of the key problems identified in the program address urban shrinkage as a main trend. In this study, we conducted an analysis of the development of the total population trends and age structure in 167 urban settlements in Serbia in the period 2011-2022. The aim of this study is to show the demographic dimension of urban development and its importance for the sustainability of the city. Linking urban shrinkage and urban sustainability is one of the main objectives of this research.