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Demographic challenges in an outermost region

Demographic challenges in an outermost region. Isabel Almeida Rodrigues October 2007 Angra do Heroísmo. Outline Demographic challenges in the Autonomous Region of the Azores Constraints to larger fertility plans Proposal for an approach. Demographic challenges in the Azores:

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Demographic challenges in an outermost region

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  1. Demographic challengesin an outermost region Isabel Almeida Rodrigues October 2007 Angra do Heroísmo

  2. Outline • Demographic challenges in the Autonomous Region of the Azores • Constraints to larger fertility plans • Proposal for an approach

  3. Demographic challenges in the Azores: • Geographic dispersal / shortage of inhabitants • Demographic decline • Ageing in every island • Regional diversity • Change in family structures

  4. Nine island archipelago Has the statute of outermost region More than half of Azores’ total inhabitants live in S. Miguel Figure 1 – Share in the total Azorean population, 2005 * (%) 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Pico Faial Maria Santa Corvo Flores Terceira Graciosa São Miguel São Jorge Geographical dispersalShortage of inhabitants Source SREA * Estimate

  5. Geographical dispersalShortage of inhabitants • Low number of inhabitants in most islands is a constraint to development due to small dimension of the markets • Constraints to mobility and limited access to goods and services, namely regarding lifelong learning and culture, turn the smaller islands less attractive to young people

  6. Figure 2 – Average annual population growth, per island 1,00% 0,50% 0,00% Faial Pico Santa Maria São Jorge Corvo São Flores Miguel Açores Graciosa -0,50% Terceira -1,00% 1981-1991 1991-2001 Demographic decline Source INE / SREA

  7. Demographic decline • Deceleration of population growth, between 2001-2005

  8. Figure 3 Azorean population structure 1981, 1991 and 2001 70,00% 60,00% 50,00% 40,00% 30,00% 20,00% 10,00% 0,00% 1981 1991 2001 0-14 15-64 65+ Population Ageing Source INE / SREA • Young group decreases and group of 65+ increases

  9. Figure 4 Young group relative weight, per island 1981, 1991 and 2001 40,00% 35,00% 30,00% 25,00% 20,00% 15,00% 10,00% 5,00% 0,00% Pico Faial Corvo Maria Flores Santa Açores Terceira Graciosa São Jorge São Miguel 1981 1991 2001 Loss of young group relative weight Source INE / SREA • Trend of decrease registered in every island • S. Miguel registers an important decrease in the relative weight of the young group which affects the average relative weight in the Azores

  10. Figure 5 Relative weight of the group 15-64, per island 1981, 1991 and 2001 70,00% 68,00% 66,00% 64,00% 62,00% 60,00% 58,00% 56,00% 54,00% 52,00% 50,00% Pico Faial Corvo Maria Flores Santa Açores Terceira Graciosa São Jorge São Miguel 1981 1991 2001 Increase of the relative weight of the group 15-64 Source INE / SREA • Increase of its relative weight is due to the decrease of the young and not to an increase of the number of individuals belonging to the group 15-64

  11. Figure 6 Relative weight of the older group, per island 1981, 1991 and 2001 30,00% 25,00% 20,00% 15,00% 10,00% 5,00% 0,00% Pico Faial Corvo Maria Santa Flores Açores Terceira Graciosa São Jorge São Miguel 1981 1991 2001 Increase of the older group relative weight Source INE / SREA • Different paces in the increase of the older group highlight the asymmetries between the islands and the importance of an approach on a territorial basis, even in the regional context

  12. Figure 7 Ageing index, per island 250% 200% 150% 100% 50% 0% Faial Pico Corvo Maria São Jorge Flores Santa Açores S. Miguel Terceira Graciosa 1981 AI 1991 AI 2001 AI 2005 AI Estimate Regional Diversity Source INE / SREA • Population ageing is not occurring at the same pace in every island • Average ageing index calculated for the archipelago depends on the figures registered in S. Miguel island

  13. Changes in the family structure • Decrease of crude marriage rate • Decrease of the average number of people per household – nuclear family • Split between fertility and marriage

  14. Figure 8 - Live births outside marriage 35,0% 30,0% 25,0% 20,0% 15,0% 10,0% 5,0% 0,0% 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Azores Portugal Source INE

  15. Constraints to larger fertility plans: • Parenthood social representations • Balance between work and private life • Family earnings

  16. Parenthood social representations • Only women attend family planning services • Parental leave is mainly taken by women – they took 94,64% of the total parental leaves in year 2005

  17. Balance between work and private life Family earnings Inquiry “Families in Contemporary Portugal” • Face to face interviews with women • Interviews took place in 1999 • Statistically valuable in the Azores

  18. Working women are more controlled and regulated in what concerns pregnancy, and it is difficult for them to achieve their fertility plans

  19. Answers given by mothers of one only child, when asked about the reasons why they didn't wish to have more children: • Unavailability • Financial constraints

  20. Proposal for an approach Social representations Expectations Constraints Goals: Change social representations of parenthood Improve levels of participation of male partners Perception of parenthood as a paramount social value Creation of a parenthood friendly social environment Implementation of appealing conditions for young people to establish in territories showing higher ageing indexes

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