Prospects for the Development of the Regional Settlement System Based on Functional and Demographic Zoning

The article substantiates the prospects for the development of the regional settlement system based on changes in the number of populated areas and their functional significance. The study employs methods of spatiotemporal analysis and uses official statistical data provided by the Federal State Statistics Service. The processing of primary statistical data was carried out using a set of analytical methods. The author proposes a unique methodology for the functional and demographic zoning of the region, which includes five stages. Within this methodology, the author suggests the assessment of the demographic potential of settlements (crowding adjusted for current trends) and their functional significance (a score-based assessment of the range of services provided by the settlement). The methodology was tested using the example of the main settlements of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra. Within the regional settlement system, the following categories have been identified: development centers (Surgut, Nizhnevartovsk, Khanty-Mansiysk, Nefteyugansk), stable centers (Kogalym, Nyagan, Urai, Yugorsk), service centers (Beloyarsk, Berezovo), and peripheral settlements (Priobye, Gornopradinsk). To develop the settlement system, it is proposed to implement an active demographic policy aimed at increasing the birth rate, attracting migrants, developing transport accessibility of populated areas, and creating new jobs in the non-resource sector of the economy.