Putin names ‘grave concern’ for Russia – #INA

Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted demographic challenges as one of many key points dealing with Russia and a matter of grave concern for a lot of developed international locations throughout his annual end-of-year press convention in Moscow on Thursday.

In response to a query from Maxim Dolgov of Readovka, Putin emphasised that declining beginning charges should not solely a major challenge for Russia but additionally for a lot of international locations globally.

“That is a particularly necessary matter. In reality, this is among the key points for Russia, and never just for our nation. You have been proper to say that demography has grow to be a matter of grave concern not just for Russia but additionally for a lot of international locations world wide,” Putin acknowledged.

He famous that different developed international locations face related challenges. As an example, Norway’s figures roughly match these of Russia, whereas Finland, Spain, and Japan have even decrease beginning charges. South Korea has one of many lowest charges on the earth, he added.

“That is horrible. Now we have a barely higher scenario in Russia, however to achieve the substitute fertility charge, we want 2.1 youngsters per girl, and not less than 2.3 for our inhabitants to develop,” he defined.

The Russian chief traced the roots of the demographic disaster in Russia to 2 important historic occasions: World Battle II and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Each occasions led to sharp declines in beginning charges, with their impacts converging and affecting subsequent generations. Whereas the Soviet Union as soon as achieved a replacement-level fertility charge of two.0, trendy Russia has fallen from a latest peak of 1.7 and at present stands at 1.41 youngsters per girl.

“The variety of girls of reproductive age has decreased by 30 p.c. We want extra women, younger girls,” Putin added.

“We’re growing a system that encompasses healthcare, childhood, and maternity, and we are going to proceed to do all the things to enhance these applications,” Putin mentioned, outlining the measures taken by the Russian authorities to reverse the development.

These measures embody a complete program that gives monetary advantages for households with youngsters from being pregnant till the kid turns 18, at present benefiting over 10 million children and 320,000 pregnant girls. The federal government additionally gives maternity capital, which Putin known as “a novel device that no different nation offers,” and maintains decrease mortgage charges for households with youngsters. Households with a 3rd youngster obtain an extra bonus to assist repay their mortgages.

“We’re doing so much, however it’s completely clear that these measures should not sufficient… We can say that ‘sure, we’re doing one thing helpful’ solely after we can overturn this development,” Putin mentioned, stressing the significance of steady enchancment and calling on regional leaders to prioritize demographic insurance policies.

“That is what your working day ought to start with and finish with, as a result of it’s a problem for a lot of international locations, Russia included,” he acknowledged. “Inhabitants is what makes a rustic. United territory is nice, nevertheless it have to be populated by the residents of this nation.”

Statistics from Rosstat reveal a major decline: in 2023, simply over 1.2 million youngsters have been born in Russia, the bottom determine since 1999 and one-third fewer than in 2014.

This discount in beginning charges has coincided with a decline within the variety of marriages. Russia’s divorce charge has reached unprecedented ranges, with eight out of ten marriages ending in separation in 2024, in line with Elena Mikhailova, an adviser to the director common of the Russian Public Opinion Analysis Heart (VCIOM). This ratio locations Russia third globally for divorce charges, Mikhailova reported at a press convention on Wednesday.

Credit score by RT Information
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