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Russian population in decline

The numbers in Russia`s population are taking a dip, down from about half a million from the previous year, according to federal statistics. Russia`s population, the biggest in Eurasia, has been declining since the fall of communism and the break up of the Soviet Union back in 1991.

The United Nations is currently urging Russian authorities to change their strict immigration policy, spend more money to improve health care, and to look more closely into the country`s welfare system in order to promote skilled foreigners to move to the country and to avoid a further decline in the population.

The current population is at 143 million, and can shrink as low as 80 million by the year 2050. Factors such as increased poverty, alcoholism, emigration and degradation of the health care system, are a few reasons for the decline in birth rates and life expectancy.