Factors affecting and determining local depopulation

This paper analyses the factors that influence and determine the local population growth and decrease in rural areas of Latvia based on population changes at micro level (1x1 km square grid areas) in 2000–2018. Quantitative analysis of the spatial structure of the population was carried out in three reference territories. Results suggest that the proportion of territories with population increase in Latvian municipalities (2000–2018) has a very strong and statistically significant correlation to population changes (2000–2018) in the respective municipality. This may lead to the conclusion that the influence of other factors on the location of the territories in the spatial structure of the municipality where population growth is observed is not statistically significant.