Demographic and spatio-functional processes in Ljig rural settlements

Weakened demographic potentials of population as factor of development of rural settlements, also reflect to changes in the existing network of settlements in Ljig municipality. Consequences of demographic development's negative flows can be directly perceived in transformation of settlements' structure towards population size. Concentration of population in city center, together with discharge of population in village, have caused both demographic and functional disballance within settlement network. As the result of continuing processes of depopulation and population ageing, significant changes within structure of population and households of rural settlements have come forth. Current changes in rural settlements are mutually dependant to general socio-economic development, both in rural settlements and municipality as whole. Classification of rural Ljig's settlements will be conducted according to indicators of demographic development's components, with an emphasize on the most significant population problems. The paper will analyze spatial element of transformations of rural settlements' network, their function as indicator of economic development's level and role within the system of settlements.