Russia's population declined to 142 million in 2007 amid the government's drive to save the country from a sharp population shortage in five decades, official figures published on Thursday show.
The population decreased by 237,800, or 0.17 percent, last year to hit 142 million as of Jan. 1, 2008, Russia's RIA news agency reported, citing the State Statistics Service.
The mortality rate in Russia declined 4 percent compared to 2006, reaching some 2 million deaths, while the birth rate grew 8.3 percent year-on-year to an estimated 1.6 million live births, it said.
Nearly half of deaths in Russia were due to cardiovascular diseases. Alcohol abuse, road accidents and cancer claimed some 500,000 lives in 2007, RIA said.
Russia has carried out several programs, including incentive payments for second births, aimed at boosting the population. The United Nations predicted that Russia's population could fall by 30percent by the middle of the century if the current trend continues.
Immigrants, however, made up for some of the population loss, increasing by up to 274,000 last year, particularly from former Soviet republics.
Source:Xinhua
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