Russian Demographics

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8468185.stm


Russia sees first population increase in 15 years

Vladimir Putin made stemming population decline a priority Russia has bucked a long-term trend of population decline by recording its first annual increase in 15 years, its health minister has announced.

The population grew in 2009 by between 15,000 and 25,000 to more than 141.9 million, Tatyana Golikova said, quoting preliminary figures. Much of the growth is due to a falling death rate and increasing migration. But births also rose, with 2.8% more babies born last year than in 2008, the Russian health minister said.