noun
underpopulated area; depopulated region
Refers to a region with a declining or very low population, often used in discussions of rural decline and regional policy.
過疎地域では、公共交通機関の維持が難しい。
In underpopulated areas, maintaining public transportation is difficult.
政府は過疎地域の活性化に取り組んで
The government is working on revitalizing depopulated regions.
Compound of 過疎 (depopulation) and 地域 (area, region). 過疎 itself is composed of 過 (exceed, too much) and 疎 (sparse, neglect).