Przegląd Zachodniopomorski

Depopulation processes are the result of asuccessive actual decrease in population, result- ing from natural or migratory population loss. These factors can occur simultaneously in a given area, or just one can generate population loss. Depopulation processes cause many negative consequences, whether demographic, social or economic. The main aim of the research described in the article was to identify the areas of theNorth- west Macroregion (i.e., the counties and municipalities located within the administrative boundaries of Lubuskie, Wielkopolskie and Zachodniopomorskie voivodeships) annu- ally experiencing the depopulation process in the second decade of the 21st century (i.e., 2011–2020 and the 2016–2020 sub-period). The secondary objective was to identify the factors of depopulation in the above areas and years. An additional objective was to assess the progression of depopulating municipalities in terms of demographic old age in 2020. The Northwest Macroregion is diverse in terms of its demographic situation. In the 2010s, the Wielkopolskie Voivodeship was in the most favorable situation. On the territory of each of the Macroregion’s voivodeships there are counties and municipalities experiencing population loss every year, both due to natural and migration factors. Most of the Mac - roregion’s demographically oldest counties and municipalities are areas of depopulation. The study uses data from the Central Statistical Office on vital statistics and migratory population movement and population structure by age in 2011–2020 in the voivodeships, counties and municipalities located within the borders of the Northwest Macroregion.