UNCOVERING CURRENT TRENDS OF RURAL POPULATION DISTRIBUTION IN A REGION (THE CASE OF TATARSTAN REPUBLIC).

This study investigates the rural population distribution in the Republic of Tatarstan. This article considers the rural population and settlements of Tatarstan Republic in terms of development and distribution factors from 1950ies to the present day. The paper analyzes the main factors influencing the placement of rural settlements such as geographic, demographic, natural, transportational, economic and socio-domestic. The authors have examined the rural population migration as well as changes in the rural population ethnic composition, including the factors stipulating them. The conclusions obtained during the research are based on the data of 1920, 1926, 1939, 1959, 1970, 1979, 1989 censuses. Rural population reduction rate is quite substantial, despite the high economic potential of the republican rural areas [Gabdrakhmanov, 2016]. This fact highlights the importance of current research aimed at studying and analyzing the reasons for rural population reduction. Analysis and study at the single entity level will contribute to the identification of regional features and to the development of practical guidelines for the transition to regional sustainable development. The study applies key indicators for the analysis of the of socio-economic factors impact on the distribution of rural settlements of municipalities in Tatarstan Republic. The results of the study reveal the patterns and trends in the distribution and development of rural settlements, which will be exploited in the formulating practical guidelines for rural settlements sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]