Analysis of depopulation trends and models of rural settlements in Khorasan Razavi province, 1986–2017

Abstract

ABSTRACT As a result of the speed and direction of rural depopulation, between 1986 and 2006, 59% of rural settlements were deserted in Iran’s second most populous province, Khorasan Razavi. In Iran as a whole, 37% were abandoned. A Moran’s I = 0.56 suggests that the desertion of villages in Khorasan Razavi followed a clustered pattern, with the highest rate of depopulation being in rural areas covering less than 5% of the province’s land area. Macro-economic and policy causes are outlined, as are some of the consequences and ways to promote more balanced and equitable development.