Russia Ends 14 Years of Decline in Population on Immigrants
By Paul Abelsky
Feb. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Russia’s population increased in 2009, ending 14 years of declines, after growing immigration helped offset the country’s “natural decline,” the Federal Statistics Service said.
The population rose 23,300 to 141.9 million last year after a drop of 104,800 in 2008, the Moscow-based service said today. Deaths exceeded births by 249,400 people, compared with a difference of 362,100 in 2008.
The country’s population has been shrinking since 1995, which former President Vladimir Putin called Russia’s “most acute problem.” The population may shrink 2.1 percent, falling by 3 million to 139 million by 2031, according to the Federal Statistics Service’s base forecast, taking into account birth rates, mortality and migration.
Migrant inflows from former Soviet countries accounted for most of the increase, the service said today. Immigrants registered to stay in Russia for one year or more are counted as part of the country’s population, according to the report.
The number of deaths caused by “transport-related injuries” dropped 5,400 to 30,000 last year. Russia had 37,200 suicides in 2009, compared with 38,400 a year earlier.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-18/russia-ends-14-years-of-decline-in-population-on-immigrants.html
