Russian demographics

Research shows that recentRussian government efforts to support family, including the so called “maternity capital” - 250000 rubles (about $10000) of allowance when a second child is born - have resulted in a sort of a “baby-boom”. According to the Prime Minister V. Putin, the year of 2008 saw the highest birth rate (7%) in the last 15 years.  However the forecast for the future isn't too optimistic: the birth rate is expected to go down again within the next few years.  According to demography experts Russia is following in the steps of the European countries in its demographic and social patterns: the number of common-law marriages is growing, young people wait to get married (today women get married at 23.5 y.o., men – at 26.5 y.o., before – at 22.1 and 24.5 accordingly). These days almost half of marriages aren’t registered while before 80% of marriages were registered. Having children outside of wedlock has become a mass phenomena and is typical for families where women grew without fathers. Many experts find it very untypical for Russia that today’s young families delay having their first child.  Some experts don’t expect Russia growth ratio go up any time soon. (Source: ASI)