Armenia finds itself on verge of demographic crisis
ArmRadio.am
2007-03-03 16:05:00
As a result of research, specialists of the Armenian Ministry of Labor
and Social Affairs, the National Statistical Service and the United
National Population Fund have came to a conclusion that Armenia is on
the verge of a demographic crisis. The reason of the situation is the
negative social and economical, public and political processes which
have been observed over the past 15 years.
Ashot Yesayan, the Deputy Minister of the Armenian Ministry of Labor
and Social Affairs, told an ArmInfo correspondent that the public
processes have reduced the natural population growth five times. In
1990-2005, the birth rate became two time less, and the death rate, on
the contrary, increased by 32.3%. Migration became an indicator of
regress of the natural population growth, he noted. Particularly,
two-thirds of the Armenian population (590 thsd people) left the
country in 1991- 1994, and over 900 thsd – during the whole 15-year
period of independence.
The number of marriages also has considerably decreased. In 1990-2000,
this indicator dropped almost four times. A 10% growth in number of
matrimonial alliances has dynamically been observed since 2000. The
number of families with two, three and more children is declining.
Large families, i.e. those with 3 children, make up only 6.5% of the
whole number of families in Armenia, those with 2 children – 19.3%,
and those with one child also make up 19.3%. The state should create
favorable conditions for families so that they could have the second
child at least, A.Yesayan noted, adding that this task is presented in
the state conception on demographic strategy in order to avoid a
demographic crisis.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
