Population Increase Observed In Armenia

POPULATION INCREASE OBSERVED IN ARMENIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 24 2007

YEREVAN, September 24. /ARKA/. During the recent three years trends
of population increase have been observed in Armenia, said Head of
the Department of population census and demography of the Armenian
National Statistical Service Karine Kyumjyan.

"Before 2003 the indices of migration exceeded the population increase,
and the demographic situation did not improve, but starting from 2003
demography has become better accounted for the natural population
increase," she said.

Kyumjyan noted if in 1985-1990 in Armenia 80,000 children were born
annually, in 2002 the index reduced by 32,000, but recently comparative
increase is observed at the level of 37,000 annually. In 52.1% of
these case the child is a firstborn, and in 12.7% – third or more.

She said that Armenia gradually transfers from the model of large
family to that of with 1-2 children.

"In 90s the reproductive performance index was 2.6 children, in 2006
it reached 1,35, and in this period the number of children living
till the reproductive age reduced twice," she added.

She also pointed to the problem of reduction of registered marriages.

She noted that in 2006 the number of marriages was 16,000 against
28,000 in 1990. The correlation of the number of divorces towards
marriages increased. In 2006, 1,700 couples divorced against 4,000
in 1990.

Kyumjyan noted that the average duration of the first marriage
increased from 25.5 years in 1990 to 28 years in 2005.

At the same time she said that in this period the average index of
life interval increased from 67.9 to 73 of men, and from 73.4 to 76.5
of women.