NEWSLINK: Russian birth rate to rise to 1.8 million as New Year rings in

[Russian birth rate to rise to 1.8 million as New Year rings in – Russia Today – Robert Bridge – December 21, 2012 – http://rt.com/politics/russia-demographics-population-babies-crisis-538/]

Pro-Kremlin Russia Today reports on an announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets that there have been increases in the Russian birthrate:

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets has announced some optimistic news regarding the country’s demographics, which shows that initiatives by the Kremlin may be beginning to bear fruit.

The annual birth rate in Russia is expected to eventually hit 2 million, which is good news for the nation’s demographic and social outlook, Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets said in remarks at a conference on demographic issues.

After years of dismal demographic rates, the news comes as a relief for officials concerned about the social risks connected with a dwindling population, as well as the overall aging of the population and the need to meet the demands of the labor market through human capital.

“We anticipate that 1.8 million babies will be born this year,” Golodets said. “It is desirable that the birth rate should reach 2 million… which would allow many of the risks for our state to be removed in this generation.”

Golodets said that the country’s birth rate levels should be maintained by further social development. She noted that Russia’s birth rate has been increasing by 100,000 annually, and while the growth is welcome news, it presents a challenge to the country’s social infrastructure.

Click here to read full article: http://rt.com/politics/russia-demographics-population-babies-crisis-538/

[image adapted from image at pravda.ru]