OREANDA-NEWS  RosStat published data on the number of permanent population, according to which the figure fell for the first time in ten years.

Last year, the number of Russians decreased by almost 87 thousand people: the country's population as of January 1, 2019 amounted to 146 million 793 thousand people. For comparison, the population of January 1, 2018 was about 146 million 880 thousand people.

Moreover, according to RosStat, this time the reduction was mainly due to the Siberian and Volga Federal districts. In other districts the population increased. The number of permanent residents of the capital for the year increased by 124 thousand people. Experts of Gaidar Institute warned that by the end of the last year a negative trend could be recorded in the country in the summer. They drew attention to the decline in the birth rate due to the fact that the childbearing age has entered a relatively small generation of women born in the 90s. At the same time, the number of migrants arriving in the country, due to which the natural decline of the population was compensated for the most part, is now also decreasing.

The last time the population of the country decreased in 2008.

In August, Vladimir Putin in a televised address to the Russians said that the country in the 2020s will face demographic problems. He noted that every 25-27 years in adult life in Russia enters a smaller number of citizens than could and should be.

In March, Putin during his speech to the Federal Assembly said that demographic problems can become a serious limitation for economic growth.

"There will be no labor resources," the Head of State said.

The President stressed that it is necessary to meet these challenges and ensure sustainable growth of the Russian population in the coming decades.

"This happens as a result of severe demographic losses during the great Patriotic war, and it is not only direct losses, but also millions of unborn in the war years," the President said.

In March, Putin during his speech to the Federal Assembly said that demographic problems can become a serious limitation for economic growth.