POPULATION DYNAMICS IN THE MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF MONTENEGRO: ECOLOGICAL TRANSITIONS AND DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSFORMATIONS IN PLJEVLJA SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY.

The paper deals with the demographic development of the northernmost municipality in Montenegro, with a special emphasis on migration trends, which have intensified since the second half of the last century. The municipality of Pljevlja is specific in this regard because it had the highest growth in emigration since the beginning of the 21st century in Montenegro, regardless of the fact that it has natural potentials, which, unfortunately, have not been adequately used, so the municipality is still classified as underdeveloped. The consequence of the weak economic development of the municipality is the continuous decline in the number of inhabitants, namely, Pljevlja's share in the total population of Montenegro decreased from 9.7% in 1961 to 4.2% in 2021. In the paper, we will look at the ecological transitions and demographic transformations of the municipality. By analyzing the demographic parameters, we will point out the consequences of migration, which are directly reflected in the further demographic development of the municipality. Analysis of the overall movement of the population (natural movement and migration), the age-gender structure of the municipality's population and rural population size will prove the set hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]