THE DEMOGRAPHIC SITUATION IN RUSSIA: REGIONAL DIFFERENCES AND DEFORMATIONS

Abstract

Russia meets long and steady process of depopulation. Its basis is formed with the declining birth rates and high mortality, especially for the male population of working age as well as for children and adolescent. All this resulted in aging population, reducing the labour potential of Russia and, accordingly, in labour resources’ shortages in the labour market. This situation has generated the necessity to attract labour resources from countries of near and far abroad, the quality of which do not always meet the needs of the innovative development of the economy of Russia. Against this background, the outf low of sk illed workers, especial ly of young people, sti l l continues and it reduces more and more scientific, creating and cultural potential of the Russian society. Basing on the analysis of statistical information for a long period of time, the article characterizes the demographic situation in the country as a whole and in the regional context. The author makes an attempt to identify the most disadvantaged regions with the criteria of natural and mechanical movement of the population, to explore the destructive consequences of demographic processes and to provide some recommendations for their reduction.