Russian Labor Ministry claims increase in birth rate, natural population decline

File Photo of Crowd of Russians with One Waving Russian Flag

(Interfax – MOSCOW, July 11, 2013) The death rate in Russia grew by 3,900 year on year in January-May 2013, the Labor and Social Protection Ministry said on Thursday.

“Some 813,200 people died in January-May 2013 or 3,900 more than during the relevant period in 2012,” the press service quoted Minister Maxim Topilin.

The minister said though that the death rate dipped in May. “Some 160,700 people died or 7,900 less than in May 2012,” the press service reported.

The natural decline in the population grew by 5.1% to 59,800 in January-May 2013, the ministry said.

At the same time, there was an insignificant increase in the birth rate. “A total of 753,400 babies were born in January-May 2013, a thousand more than in the same period of 2012,” Topilin said.

He said the birth rate increased in 33 regions. “The birth rate increased by more than 5% in two territories”, namely the Kaliningrad region and the Nenets autonomous district, the minister said.

[featured image is file photo of crowd in Russia, not directly connected to article]

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