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"By 2011 the mortality rate should be equal to the birth rate," Social
Development and Health Minister Tatyana Golikova said.
In the first eleven months of 2007 the mortality rate in Russia was 14.7
deaths per 1,000 live births, and 15.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2006,
the minister said.
The average mortality rate for the 27-member European Union in 2006 was 10.1
deaths per 1,000 live births. The first time in European modern history the
death rate exceeded births.
Demographic issues are widely seen as one of the main threats facing modern
Russia since market reforms and economic hardship of the 1990s.
Many experts are concerned that Russia will be hit be a demographic crisis
in the near future and according to UN predictions, Russia's population,
currently at about 142 million, could fall by 30% by the middle of the
century.
In October, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a set of targets to
improve the country's demographic policy to 2025. The proposals are designed
to lower the national mortality rate, raise birth rates, improve national
health and regulate immigration.
In 2008-2010, the country plans to invest almost 500 billion rubles ($19.3
billion) in socio-demographic programs.
Maternity incentives, including payouts of about $9,500 for the birth of two
or more children, the so called baby-money, were introduced in early 2007
following a presidential initiative.
Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080123/97616414
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