POPULATION DECLINE - Russia

Question 1

Why is there decline in Russia?

Answer 1

• High death rate:
  
  • Life expectancy only 59 in males.
  • Poor healthcare.
  • More than 1 million have AIDS.
  • High alcohol-related deaths - 2/3 Russian men die drunk.
• Low birth rate:
  
  • Educated women do not want to have children.
  • Fertility rate is 1.1.
  • 13 abortions to every 10 children.
• Emigration:
  
  • USSR dissolved Dec 1991. This led to the lifting of restrictions on borders.
  • Emigration in 1990s 175 million.

Question 2

What problems does population decline present?

Answer 2

• Not enough taxes paid to support services.
• Innovation and development decline. Labour shortage - decreased to 76 million in 2014.
• Goods imported - disrupts balance. Imports worth $250 billion.
• Resources wasted due to surplus.
• Danger to national security.

Question 3

What are the solutions to decline in Russia?

Answer 3

• Birth rate:
  
  • Free kintergarten, cheaper housing and cash support with many children.
  • Those who have children receive 250,000 roubles - more than 4x the monthly annual income.
  • From oil profits they have dedicated 1500 roubles to child support.
• Immigration:
  
  • Immigration policies simplifying.
  • New policy Jan 2007.
  • Now 180,000 migrants visit the country each year.

Question 4

What is the rate of decline in Russia?

Answer 4

• -0.6% in 2004.