DEMOGRAPHY REQUIRES SERIOUS ATTENTION

KarabakhOpen
31-03-2007 11:31:13

Demography is one of the eight global problems. This problem exists
everywhere. However, in one country the government seeks for ways of
controlling the growth of the population, such as in China, whereas
in other countries having children is encouraged.

As of January 1, 2007, the population of Karabakh was 137.7
thousand. 2102 children were born in 2006, which has increased by
98 or 4.9 percent compared with 2005. The rate of death dropped by
25 or 2 percent compared with the previous year. Figures state that
the population grows, but at what rate does it grow?

Migration also affects demography. For instance, officially 827 people
arrived in Karabakh in 2006, and 1310 left it. In fact, the population
declined by 445, which is not less for a country with a population of
137.7 thousand. " Many people leave to work abroad. It is impossible
to support a family without a job. I also lived in Russia for some
time. It was very difficult," says Never Mnatsakanyan, Stepanakert. "It
is easy to find a job there. Of course, it is sleepless nights,
discomfort, you get homesick, you miss your family, but at home,
which you defended from the enemy, you cannot find a job and you have
to find a "fortune" in other countries. I could not stay there long
but I managed to earn some money and I set up my small business here."

"The war is over, and it seems that the birth rate should
grow. However, it depends not only on peace but also on the social
state of the country," says Liana Karapetyan. "Today it is very
difficult to have a child, to support, educate and provide with an
apartment… All these things used to be free in the Soviet period,
now you have to pay. I have two children, I do not want to have the
third. Not because I do not like children. Simply I cannot afford. I
do not work, we live on my husband’s salary. You know how much the
salary in Karabakh is."