Russia: Baby Boom At Last?
The number of people living in Russia increased for the first time in 14 years in 2009. Russia's Health Minister, Tatyana Golikova, said that the country's population rose by around 15,000-25,000 to more than 141.9 million. The growth was due to a 4% decline in mortality rates and a rise in immigration from neighbouring republics of the former Soviet Union. Russia has shrunk by 7 million people since 1992 and may lose another 30% of its population by 2050 unless demographic trends are reversed, with disastrous consequences for its economy as labour shortages take hold. A recent World Health Organisation study found that average male life expectancy has dropped to around 60 compared with 72 for women.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6994464.ece
