The Municipality of Kastoria (LAU 1), located in Western Macedonia Region, is a border area, gateway to Albania and other Balkan countries. This region is experiencing one of the most serious shrinking rate in Greece, as a result of legacy effects of past migrations during the 1960s and of economic decline started in the 1980s and. The remaining economic alternatives linked to agriculture and livestock farming offered low profitability, limited by poor access to energy, water supply or to infrastructure. These economic factors have favored the population decline of 5.8% between 2001-2017, doubled by low fertility rates and ageing.

Identity:

Case study: Kastoria, Western Macedonia

Country: Greece (EL) 

Project: European Shrinking Rural Areas: Challenges, Actions and Perspectives for Territorial Governance (ESCAPE)

Delivery: 12/2020

Population: 47,723

Classification: LAU1