Moscow, Russia, Jan 18, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Russia's population will likely decline by about one-third, from 145 million to 100 million, by 2050, said the Russian Security Council in a statement last week. The current population is 145 million.
The decline is due to high mortality and a low birth rate, said the statement, according to a Jan. 13 report by Xinhuanet.
The report pointed out that the average life expectancy of a Russian man is 15 years lower than that of an American man, and Russia’s birth rate saw the most dramatic decline between 1930 and 1950.
Officials are concerned about the future of the country. The Security Council’s statement suggested that migration may help stabilize the situation.