|
|
|
|
|
The
2002 national census confirmed significant migration flows in and
out of the country. About 11 million migrants had come to Russia in
the previous 13 years and about 6 million had left. Armenians,
Azeris and Tajiks had gained in number from migration, and the
Chinese had gone from 5,000 to 35,000 in the 13-year period between
the censuses. The numbers of Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Russian
Germans had declined by a third. |
The
ethnic composition of Russia, too, changed over that period. Despite
the general decline in the population, certain ethnic groups grew in
numbers. For instance, the population of Chechens and Armenians
exceeded by 1 million, while that of Belarussians and the
Mordvinians dwindled. Several other ethnic groups (including Azeris,
Ingushs, Yakuts) increased to over 400,000 people. At the same time,
the number of Jews fell from 540,000 to 230,000, with many of them
having left the country.
The
census also showed that the death rate is higher among men than
among women. In 1989 there were 9.6 million more females; by 2002
the difference had reached 10 million. Sociologists explain the
difference by the high premature death rate in men. The number of
young children fell from 23 million to 12 million, leading to the
aging of the average Russian resident. Men have grown older: from
31.5 to 34 years; while the average woman has aged from 35 to nearly
40. And again, the average age of women is higher because they live
longer, sociologists explain. Boys are still born more often, with
their number being 2 per cent higher than that for girls.
The
country is composed of 67.6 million men and 77.6 million women. For
every thousand men, there are 1147 women. For the past 30 years now,
women have been increasing their numbers compared to men. The medium
age for a resident of Russia is 37.7 years or three years older than
in 1989.
See also
ETHNIC MINORITIES.
Copyrighted material
|
|
|
|
