Urban Population Dynamics in the Republic of Bashkortostan: Current Trends

Abstract

The purpose is to analyse urbanization processes in the Republic of Bashkortostan, to characterise the peculiarities of urban population dynamics in the Republic of Bashkortostan and to identify its relevant trends that determine the current tendencies in urban development. Materials and methods. Statistical data on the dynamics of the population by cities of the Republic of Bashkortostan were used to analyze current trends. Graphs method was used to visualize the dynamics of urbanization processes. Economic-geographical methods played an important role in solving the set tasks: description, comparative-geographical, and geo-information methods. Results and discussion. Urbanization processes in Bashkortostan are developing slowly. The importance of large cities and agglomerations is increasing, while the role of small towns and urban-type settlements is decreasing. Factors infl uencing the level of urbanization in Bashkortostan were identifi ed: the sectoral structure of the economy, historical and cultural features, and the level of industrialization. Conclusion. The Republic of Bashkortostan is characterized by urbanization processes that showed insignifi cant development rates during the analyzed period. Despite some stagnation in the development of the urban settlement system, there has been an increase in the share of the urban population in the republic over the past 30 years. This process is accompanied by the concentration of residents in large cities and agglomerations, while small and medium-sized towns face challenges related to limited growth opportunities.