Географски разгледи (50) 83-95 (2017) Geographical Reviews UDK: 911.373(497.781) THE RURAL EXODUS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF KICHEVO Marija LJAKOSKA, Mirjanka MADJEVIKJ University Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Institute of Geography; e-mail:
[email protected] ABSTRACT The process of uneven spatial distribution of the population, especially the appearance of areas with increased concentration of population versus areas affected by an emphasized process of depopulation, are problems at national, regional and local level that have been affecting the Republic of Macedonia for a long period of time. These processes did not pass the present Municipality of Kichevo located in the central part of Western Macedonia, consisted of one urban settlement, Kichevo and another 78 rural settlements. Although the total number of the population in the municipality, according to all census years data and the population estimates, is constantly increasing, large is the number of rural settlements in which the number of inhabitants is constantly decreasing causing changes in the distribution of the population and uneven economic, social and population balance at the territory of the municipality. The aim of this paper is to consider the scope and dynamics of the population changes that occurred in the rural area of the Municipality of Kichevo. Key words: population displacement, depopulation, rural exodus, Municipality of Kichevo INTRODUCTION The rural settlements as a complementary part of the rural environment in the past were developed under the influence of social, socioeconomic factors and various other factors of the natural-geographic and historical-geographical bases, processes and changes (Daskalovski, Markoski, 1990/91).