Demographic history of Backa
Encyclopedia
This is demographic history of Bačka
. This article contains data from various population censuses conducted in the region of Bačka during the history. Censuses from 1715 to 1910 contain data about population of the entire Bačka, while censuses from 1921 to 2002 contain data about population of the Yugoslav/Serbian part of Bačka.
. There is a dispute whether remains of ethnic Avars still lived in the region in the time of Hungarian conquest or they were already assimilated by more numerous Slavs. In the 11-15th centuries, the region had mostly Hungarian population with Slavic ethnic islands. During Hungarian
rule, the native Slavic population mostly lost its Slavic language and culture and was assimilated into Hungarians. Since the 14th century, Slavic Serbs started to migrate to this region from Balkans. In the outset of the 16th century, before the Ottoman
conquest, the largest part of population of Bačka were Hungarians, and the smaller part of population were Slavs. After the Ottoman conquest, most of the Hungarian and Catholic Slavic population fled from the area, and new Orthodox settlers (Serbs
, Vlachs
, etc) as well as many Muslims of various ethnic origins settled in the area. During Ottoman rule, the region was mainly populated by Serbs
, who were in an absolute majority http://books.google.com/books?id=-zZ_NVM9mNEC&pg=PA9&lpg=PA9&dq=hungarians+vojvodina+1880&source=bl&ots=pdezU5YQTv&sig=eYjZSy7X8g7ST9AoR-uFSXuKTYM&hl=en&ei=sDVUTZKANJKV4gaH0qHrCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&sqi=2&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Serbs%20in%20an%20absolute%20majority%20in%20the%20province%2C%20as%20in%20the%20days%20of%20the%20Ottoman-Turkish%20occupation&f=false and who mostly lived in villages, while cities were populated by various Muslim and Christian ethnic groups including Serbs, Turks, Roma, Greeks, Cincars, Arabs, Bosniaks, as well as Jews. During the Habsburg rule, in the 17th and 18th century, new wave of Serb settlers came to the area. During the 18th and 19th century, Hungarian, German
, and other (Slovak
, Rusyn
, etc) colonists came to the area, which thus became ethnically mixed with population composed mostly of Serbs, Hungarians, and Germans. Hungarian colonists mostly originated from Upper Hungary
, especially from those counties that were not under Ottoman rule. There is dispute whether some of these Hungarians were descendants of pre-Ottoman Hungarian population of Bačka. When Austrians conquered Bačka and tried to determine private land ownership in the region, the only Hungarians that were able to prove that their ancestors owned land in Bačka were members of Cobor family, who proved their ownership rights over town of Baja. In early 20th century, Bačka was ethnically mixed with relative Hungarian linguistic plurality. During 20th century (after 1918), many South Slavic colonists from other parts of Yugoslavia (Serbs, Montenegrins, Macedonians, Muslims by nationality, etc) settled in the area, mainly after 1945 and between 1991-1996.
This census recorded all inhabitants of Bačka that had to pay taxes to authorities, excluding those that were not obligated to pay taxes (for example people that did not had their own house or people that served as soldiers in the military frontier) as well as those that were hiding from authorities with goal to avoid tax paying.
1715 census did not recorded ethnicity or language of the citizens, but analysys of names and surnames of the people from census results provided data about approximate ethnic composition of the area, which was as follows:
1720 census also did not recorded ethnicity or language of the citizens, but analysys of names and surnames of the people from census results provided data about approximate ethnic composition of the area, which was as follows:
As for the geographical distribution of the three largest ethnic groups in 1910, Hungarians mainly lived in northern parts of the region, Germans
in western, and Serbs
in the southern parts. Újvidék (Serbian: Novi Sad
), city in the southern part of the region, was the cultural and political centre of the Serb people in the 18th and 19th century. After the end of the First World War, the territory of the county was divided between the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia
) and Hungary
.
Of the 105 communes in the Yugoslav Bačka, the Germans
were in a majority in 36, the Yugoslavs
in 31, the Magyars in 23, and the Slovaks
in 7, while in 8 communes no one language-group predominated. Of the eleven administrative districts into which the Yugoslav Bačka was divided, the German-speaking communes were in a majority in Odžaci
and Palanka
, the Serb
and Croat
in Žabalj
and Titel
and the Magyar in Senta
and Topola
. In the remaining five districts, the communes of no single language group were in predominance.
(*) Total number of speakers of South Slavic languages (Serbian and Croatian) was 213,572 (27.05%).
According to the Yugoslav census of 2002 in Yugoslav part of Bačka has been living 1,022,524 people and its population is composed of:
, in Hungarian Bácska (including districts of Bajai
, Bácsalmás
i, and Jánoshalma
i) were living 113,432 people. Note that administrative borders of the districts do not fully correspond with the geographical borders of Hungarian Bácska. Most of the inhabitants of Hungarian Bácska are ethnic Hungarians.
During the Habsburg administration, first censuses in Bačka were conducted in 1715 and 1720. These censuses also recorded only those inhabitants that had to pay taxes to the Habsburg authorities, while those inhabitants that did not had to pay taxes (for example those that did not had their own house) were excluded from census. These censuses did not recorded ethnicity or mother tongue of the citizens.
Later Habsburg and Yugoslav censuses recorded language spoken by the citizens, and since 1948, censuses are also recording ethnicity of the people.
Backa
Bačka is a geographical area within the Pannonian plain bordered by the river Danube to the west and south, and by the river Tisza to the east of which confluence is located near Titel...
. This article contains data from various population censuses conducted in the region of Bačka during the history. Censuses from 1715 to 1910 contain data about population of the entire Bačka, while censuses from 1921 to 2002 contain data about population of the Yugoslav/Serbian part of Bačka.
Overview
Before the Hungarian conquest in the 10th century, Bačka was mainly populated by Slavs and AvarsEurasian Avars
The Eurasian Avars or Ancient Avars were a highly organized nomadic confederacy of mixed origins. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit entourage of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turko-Mongol groups...
. There is a dispute whether remains of ethnic Avars still lived in the region in the time of Hungarian conquest or they were already assimilated by more numerous Slavs. In the 11-15th centuries, the region had mostly Hungarian population with Slavic ethnic islands. During Hungarian
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
rule, the native Slavic population mostly lost its Slavic language and culture and was assimilated into Hungarians. Since the 14th century, Slavic Serbs started to migrate to this region from Balkans. In the outset of the 16th century, before the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
conquest, the largest part of population of Bačka were Hungarians, and the smaller part of population were Slavs. After the Ottoman conquest, most of the Hungarian and Catholic Slavic population fled from the area, and new Orthodox settlers (Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
, Vlachs
Vlachs
Vlach is a blanket term covering several modern Latin peoples descending from the Latinised population in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. English variations on the name include: Walla, Wlachs, Wallachs, Vlahs, Olahs or Ulahs...
, etc) as well as many Muslims of various ethnic origins settled in the area. During Ottoman rule, the region was mainly populated by Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
, who were in an absolute majority http://books.google.com/books?id=-zZ_NVM9mNEC&pg=PA9&lpg=PA9&dq=hungarians+vojvodina+1880&source=bl&ots=pdezU5YQTv&sig=eYjZSy7X8g7ST9AoR-uFSXuKTYM&hl=en&ei=sDVUTZKANJKV4gaH0qHrCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&sqi=2&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Serbs%20in%20an%20absolute%20majority%20in%20the%20province%2C%20as%20in%20the%20days%20of%20the%20Ottoman-Turkish%20occupation&f=false and who mostly lived in villages, while cities were populated by various Muslim and Christian ethnic groups including Serbs, Turks, Roma, Greeks, Cincars, Arabs, Bosniaks, as well as Jews. During the Habsburg rule, in the 17th and 18th century, new wave of Serb settlers came to the area. During the 18th and 19th century, Hungarian, German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, and other (Slovak
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
, Rusyn
Pannonian Rusyns
Rusyns in Pannonia, or simply Rusyns or Ruthenians , are a Slavic minority in Serbia and Croatia...
, etc) colonists came to the area, which thus became ethnically mixed with population composed mostly of Serbs, Hungarians, and Germans. Hungarian colonists mostly originated from Upper Hungary
Upper Hungary
Upper Hungary is the usual English translation for the area that was historically the northern part of the Kingdom of Hungary, now mostly present-day Slovakia...
, especially from those counties that were not under Ottoman rule. There is dispute whether some of these Hungarians were descendants of pre-Ottoman Hungarian population of Bačka. When Austrians conquered Bačka and tried to determine private land ownership in the region, the only Hungarians that were able to prove that their ancestors owned land in Bačka were members of Cobor family, who proved their ownership rights over town of Baja. In early 20th century, Bačka was ethnically mixed with relative Hungarian linguistic plurality. During 20th century (after 1918), many South Slavic colonists from other parts of Yugoslavia (Serbs, Montenegrins, Macedonians, Muslims by nationality, etc) settled in the area, mainly after 1945 and between 1991-1996.
1715
According to the Austrian census from 1715, there were 58 settlements in Bačka (excluding 18 settlements from military frontier). Largest places in Bačka in this time were Baja (with 237 recorded houses) and Futog (with 137 recorded houses).This census recorded all inhabitants of Bačka that had to pay taxes to authorities, excluding those that were not obligated to pay taxes (for example people that did not had their own house or people that served as soldiers in the military frontier) as well as those that were hiding from authorities with goal to avoid tax paying.
1715 census did not recorded ethnicity or language of the citizens, but analysys of names and surnames of the people from census results provided data about approximate ethnic composition of the area, which was as follows:
- 97.6% people with South SlavicSouth SlavsThe South Slavs are the southern branch of the Slavic peoples and speak South Slavic languages. Geographically, the South Slavs are native to the Balkan peninsula, the southern Pannonian Plain and the eastern Alps...
(SerbSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
, BunjevacBunjevciBunjevci are a South Slavic community and ethnic group living mostly in the Bačka region of Serbia and southern Hungary...
, Šokac) names and surnames - 1.9% (or 530 people) with Hungarian names and surnames
- 0.5% people with GermanGermansThe Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
names and surnames
1720
The 1720 census recorded 104,569 citizens in the Bačka region. Unlike census from 1715, this census recorded inhabitants of the military frontier as well (thus, census results also include frontiersmen from the city of Szeged, who were also under jurisdiction of the military frontier).1720 census also did not recorded ethnicity or language of the citizens, but analysys of names and surnames of the people from census results provided data about approximate ethnic composition of the area, which was as follows:
- 98,000 (94%) people with South SlavicSouth SlavsThe South Slavs are the southern branch of the Slavic peoples and speak South Slavic languages. Geographically, the South Slavs are native to the Balkan peninsula, the southern Pannonian Plain and the eastern Alps...
names and surnames, of which:- 76,000 (73%) people with OrthodoxSerbian Orthodox ChurchThe Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the autocephalous Orthodox Christian churches, ranking sixth in order of seniority after Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Russia...
(SerbSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
) names and surnames - 22,000 (21%) people with Roman Catholic (BunjevacBunjevciBunjevci are a South Slavic community and ethnic group living mostly in the Bačka region of Serbia and southern Hungary...
and Šokac) names and surnames
- 76,000 (73%) people with Orthodox
- 5,019 people with Hungarian names and surnames
- 750 people with GermanGermansThe Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
names and surnames
1820
By 1820 the population of the Bacsensis-Bodrogiensis County reached 387,914 in total population, and included following ethnicities:- South SlavsSouth SlavsThe South Slavs are the southern branch of the Slavic peoples and speak South Slavic languages. Geographically, the South Slavs are native to the Balkan peninsula, the southern Pannonian Plain and the eastern Alps...
(SerbsSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
, BunjevciBunjevciBunjevci are a South Slavic community and ethnic group living mostly in the Bačka region of Serbia and southern Hungary...
, Šokci) = 170,942 (44%) - Hungarians = 121,688 (31%)
- GermansGermansThe Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
= 91,016 (23%)
1860
1910
According to the census of 1910, Bács-Bodrog County had 812,385 inhabitants. Population by mother language (1910 census):- HungarianHungarian languageHungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
= 363,518 (44.75%) - GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
= 190,697 (23.47%) - SerbianSerbian languageSerbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
= 145,063 (17.86%) - SlovakSlovak languageSlovak , is an Indo-European language that belongs to the West Slavic languages .Slovak is the official language of Slovakia, where it is spoken by 5 million people...
= 30,137 - RussniakPannonian Rusyn languagePannonian Rusyn or simply Rusyn is a Slavic language or dialect spoken by Pannonian Rusyns in north-western Serbia and eastern Croatia...
= 10,760 - CroatianCroatian languageCroatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
= 1,279 - RomanianRomanian languageRomanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
= 386 - other languages = 70,545 (including BunjevacBunjevac languageThe Bunjevac dialect or Bunjevac language is a Štokavian dialect used by members of the Bunjevci community. The speakers live in parts of the autonomous province of Vojvodina in Serbia as well as in southern parts of Croatia. The speech has an exclusive Serbo-Croatian Ikavian reflex of the Common...
and ŠokacŠokac languageThe Šokac language was a language listed in Austro-Hungarian censuses. Population censuses performed in Austria-Hungary recorded the native language of the citizens, whereby the Šokac language was declared as native language to one part of the population, presumably members of the Šokci ethnic...
)
As for the geographical distribution of the three largest ethnic groups in 1910, Hungarians mainly lived in northern parts of the region, Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
in western, and Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
in the southern parts. Újvidék (Serbian: Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
), city in the southern part of the region, was the cultural and political centre of the Serb people in the 18th and 19th century. After the end of the First World War, the territory of the county was divided between the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
) and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
1921
According to the Yugoslav census of 1921, Yugoslav part of Bačka had a population of 735,117, of whom:- 260,998 (35.50%) spoke Hungarian languageHungarian languageHungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
- 246,598 (33.55%) spoke SerbianSerbian languageSerbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
and Croatian languageCroatian languageCroatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries... - 173,796 (23.64%) spoke German languageGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
- 30,993 (4.22%) spoke Slovak languageSlovak languageSlovak , is an Indo-European language that belongs to the West Slavic languages .Slovak is the official language of Slovakia, where it is spoken by 5 million people...
- 10,999 (1.50%) spoke Rusyn languagePannonian Rusyn languagePannonian Rusyn or simply Rusyn is a Slavic language or dialect spoken by Pannonian Rusyns in north-western Serbia and eastern Croatia...
- 4,850 (0.66%) spoke Slovene language
Of the 105 communes in the Yugoslav Bačka, the Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
were in a majority in 36, the Yugoslavs
Yugoslavs
Yugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
in 31, the Magyars in 23, and the Slovaks
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
in 7, while in 8 communes no one language-group predominated. Of the eleven administrative districts into which the Yugoslav Bačka was divided, the German-speaking communes were in a majority in Odžaci
Odžaci
Odžaci is a town and municipality in the West Bačka District of Serbia. It is situated in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The town of Odžaci has a population of 9,832 people, while the population of the municipality of Odžaci is 35,474 people .-Name:The name Odžaci means "chimneys" in Serbian...
and Palanka
Backa Palanka
Bačka Palanka is a city and municipality located in Serbia, on left bank of the Danube, at 45.15° North, 19.24° East...
, the Serb
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
and Croat
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
in Žabalj
Žabalj
Žabalj is a town and municipality in South Bačka District of Vojvodina, Serbia. Žabalj town has a population of 9,582, and Žabalj municipality 27,418. It is located in southeastern part of Bačka, known as Šajkaška.-Name:...
and Titel
Titel
Titel is a town and municipality in the South Bačka District of the Vojvodina, Serbia. The town of Titel has a population of 5,831, while the population of the municipality of Titel is 16,936...
and the Magyar in Senta
Senta
Senta is a town and municipality on the bank of the Tisa river in the Vojvodina province, Serbia. Although geographically located in Bačka, it is part of the North Banat District...
and Topola
Backa Topola
Bačka Topola is a town and municipality in the North Bačka District of Vojvodina, Serbia...
. In the remaining five districts, the communes of no single language group were in predominance.
1931
According to the Yugoslav census of 1931, Yugoslav part of Bačka had a population of 784,896, of whom: http://www.hic.hr/books/jugoistocna-europa/02tablice.htm- 284,865 (36.29%) spoke SerbianSerbian languageSerbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
and Croatian languageCroatian languageCroatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries... - 268,711 (34.24%) spoke Hungarian languageHungarian languageHungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
- 169,858 (21.64%) spoke German languageGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
- 34,234 (4.36%) spoke Slovak languageSlovak languageSlovak , is an Indo-European language that belongs to the West Slavic languages .Slovak is the official language of Slovakia, where it is spoken by 5 million people...
- 11,414 (1.45%) spoke Rusyn languagePannonian Rusyn languagePannonian Rusyn or simply Rusyn is a Slavic language or dialect spoken by Pannonian Rusyns in north-western Serbia and eastern Croatia...
- others.
1941
According to Hungarian census from end of 1941, population of Yugoslav part of Bačka numbered 789,705 inhabitants, of whom:- 358,531 (45.4%) spoke Hungarian languageHungarian languageHungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
- 162,070 (20.52%) spoke German languageGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
- 151,269 (19.15%) spoke Serbian languageSerbian languageSerbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
(*) - 62,303 (7.89%) spoke Croatian languageCroatian languageCroatian is the collective name for the standard language and dialects spoken by Croats, principally in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serbian province of Vojvodina and other neighbouring countries...
(*) - 32,578 (4.12%) spoke Slovak languageSlovak languageSlovak , is an Indo-European language that belongs to the West Slavic languages .Slovak is the official language of Slovakia, where it is spoken by 5 million people...
- 13,829 (1.76%) spoke Rusyn languagePannonian Rusyn languagePannonian Rusyn or simply Rusyn is a Slavic language or dialect spoken by Pannonian Rusyns in north-western Serbia and eastern Croatia...
(*) Total number of speakers of South Slavic languages (Serbian and Croatian) was 213,572 (27.05%).
1948
According to the Yugoslav census of 1948, Yugoslav Bačka had a population of 807,122, including: http://www.hic.hr/books/jugoistocna-europa/02tablice.htm- 307,343 (38.07%) Hungarians
- 303,664 (37.62%) SerbsSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
- 88,491 (10.96%) CroatsCroatsCroats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
- 36,041 (4.44%) SlovaksSlovaksThe Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
- 17,269 (2.18%) RusynsPannonian RusynsRusyns in Pannonia, or simply Rusyns or Ruthenians , are a Slavic minority in Serbia and Croatia...
- 10,638 (1.32%) GermansGermansThe Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
- others.
1953
According to the Yugoslav census of 1953, Yugoslav part of Bačka had a population of 831,945, including: http://www.hic.hr/books/jugoistocna-europa/02tablice.htm- 317,247 (38.12%) SerbsSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
- 311,146 (37.38%) Hungarians
- 80,957 (9.73%) CroatsCroatsCroats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
- 36,424 (4.38%) SlovaksSlovaksThe Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
- 18,162 (2.18%) RusynsPannonian RusynsRusyns in Pannonia, or simply Rusyns or Ruthenians , are a Slavic minority in Serbia and Croatia...
- others.
1961
According to the Yugoslav census of 1961, Yugoslav part of Bačka had a population of 920,600, including: http://www.hic.hr/books/jugoistocna-europa/02tablice.htm- 386,385 (41.08%) SerbsSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
- 320,566 (34.83%) Hungarians
- 101,509 (11.03%) CroatsCroatsCroats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
- 37,665 (4.09%) SlovaksSlovaksThe Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
- others.
1971
According to the Yugoslav census of 1971, the population of Yugoslav Bačka numbered 960,001 people, including:- 413,895 (43.11%) SerbsSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
- 311,379 (32.44%) Hungarians
- 92,207 (9.60%) CroatsCroatsCroats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
- 36,508 (3.80%) SlovaksSlovaksThe Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
- 31,120 (3.24%) Montenegrins
- 27,651 (2.88%) YugoslavsYugoslavsYugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
- 16,580 (1.73%) RusynsPannonian RusynsRusyns in Pannonia, or simply Rusyns or Ruthenians , are a Slavic minority in Serbia and Croatia...
- others.
1981
According to the Yugoslav census of 1981, the population of Yugoslav Bačka numbered 1,012,112 people, including: http://www.hic.hr/books/jugoistocna-europa/02tablice.htm- 434,178 (40.9%) SerbsSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
- 287,565 (30.36%) Hungarians
- 91,757 (9.86%) YugoslavsYugoslavsYugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
- 71,793 (7.09%) CroatsCroatsCroats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
- 34,997 (3.02%) SlovaksSlovaksThe Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
- 16,020 (1.68%) RusynsPannonian RusynsRusyns in Pannonia, or simply Rusyns or Ruthenians , are a Slavic minority in Serbia and Croatia...
- others.
1991
According to the Yugoslav census of 1991, the population of Yugoslav Bačka numbered 1,007,179 people, including: http://www.hic.hr/books/jugoistocna-europa/02tablice.htm- 463,029 (46.15%) SerbsSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
- 258,724 (26.63%) Hungarians
- 98,052 (10.22%) YugoslavsYugoslavsYugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
- 65,663 (6.74%) CroatsCroatsCroats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
- 32,092 (3.3%) SlovaksSlovaksThe Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
- 14,895 (1.11%) RusynsPannonian RusynsRusyns in Pannonia, or simply Rusyns or Ruthenians , are a Slavic minority in Serbia and Croatia...
- others.
2002
- 559,700 (54.74%) SerbsSerbsThe Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
- 221,882 (21.70%) Hungarians
- others (including SlovaksSlovaksThe Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
, CroatsCroatsCroats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
, BunjevciBunjevciBunjevci are a South Slavic community and ethnic group living mostly in the Bačka region of Serbia and southern Hungary...
, Šokci, RusynsPannonian RusynsRusyns in Pannonia, or simply Rusyns or Ruthenians , are a Slavic minority in Serbia and Croatia...
, Montenegrins, YugoslavsYugoslavsYugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
, Roma, GermansGermansThe Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, etc).
2001
According to Hungarian census of 2001 census in HungaryHungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, in Hungarian Bácska (including districts of Bajai
Baja, Hungary
Baja is a city in , southern Hungary. It is the second largest city in the county, after the county seat at Kecskemét, and is home to around 37,000 people....
, Bácsalmás
Bácsalmás
Bácsalmás is a small town in southern Hungary in the region of Bácska close to the border with the Vojvodina region of Serbia, with a population of 7,694 people.- History :In the Middle Ages, the region came under the control of the Magyars who absorbed the Slavic and the...
i, and Jánoshalma
Jánoshalma
Jánoshalma is a town in Bács-Kiskun county in southern Hungary....
i) were living 113,432 people. Note that administrative borders of the districts do not fully correspond with the geographical borders of Hungarian Bácska. Most of the inhabitants of Hungarian Bácska are ethnic Hungarians.
Census methodology
First censuses conducted in Bačka were Ottoman tax records (defters) from 1554, 1570 and 1590. These tax records recorded only those inhabitants of Bačka that paid taxes to the Ottoman authorities, while those inhabitants that did not had to pay taxes (for example those that were in Ottoman service) were not listed in tax records.During the Habsburg administration, first censuses in Bačka were conducted in 1715 and 1720. These censuses also recorded only those inhabitants that had to pay taxes to the Habsburg authorities, while those inhabitants that did not had to pay taxes (for example those that did not had their own house) were excluded from census. These censuses did not recorded ethnicity or mother tongue of the citizens.
Later Habsburg and Yugoslav censuses recorded language spoken by the citizens, and since 1948, censuses are also recording ethnicity of the people.