Immigration Drives Russian Population Increase
RIA Novosti - 8.20.12 - JRL 2012-149

MOSCOW, August 20 (RIA Novosti)-Russia's population rose by 85,600 since the beginning of the current year, reaching 143.1 million as of July 1, the Federal Statistics Service said on Monday.

file photoLast year also saw an increase - of 5,100, the service said.

Immigration compensated for the natural losses of the population, exceeding them by 150.3 percent.

Natural population growth in the first half of the current year was recorded in 33 out of 83 Russian regions, compared to 22 in the first half of 2011, the report said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the country's population could grow to 146 million by 2025, mainly as a result of immigration, according to Russia's Migration Policy Concept signed in 2010.

Russia has the world's eighth largest population. The nation has suffered a precipitous decline in population since the end of the Soviet-era, mainly due to rising death rates in males.

The government has said reversing this trend is a national priority and has offered cash incentives to families to have more than one child.

Keywords: Russia, Population Disaster - Russian News - Russia - Johnson's Russia List

MOSCOW, August 20 (RIA Novosti)-Russia's population rose by 85,600 since the beginning of the current year, reaching 143.1 million as of July 1, the Federal Statistics Service said on Monday.

file photoLast year also saw an increase - of 5,100, the service said.

Immigration compensated for the natural losses of the population, exceeding them by 150.3 percent.

Natural population growth in the first half of the current year was recorded in 33 out of 83 Russian regions, compared to 22 in the first half of 2011, the report said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the country's population could grow to 146 million by 2025, mainly as a result of immigration, according to Russia's Migration Policy Concept signed in 2010.

Russia has the world's eighth largest population. The nation has suffered a precipitous decline in population since the end of the Soviet-era, mainly due to rising death rates in males.

The government has said reversing this trend is a national priority and has offered cash incentives to families to have more than one child.