Wednesday May 10, 2006
Low Birth Rate is Russia’s Biggest Problem Says President Putin
By Gudrun Schultz
MOSCOW, Russia, May 10, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) –Plunging birth rates are the central factor in Russia’s “critical” population decline, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an annual address to the nation, reported the BBC today.
Russia’s falling birth rate is leading to a population crisis in the country, with an annual decline of 700,000 people. Increasing mortality rates and migration are also contributing factors, said President Putin.
In an effort to counteract the plummet in birth rates, President Putin announced a ten-year national programme designed to encourage women to have more children. An increase in childcare benefits to support young mothers would be a central element to the programme, especially for women having more than one child.
“We must, at least, stimulate the birth of a second child,” the president said.
Abortion rates in Russia are some of the highest in the world. Conservative estimates indicate 60% of all pregnancies end in abortion. LifeSiteNews reported in August that Russia’s abortion rates exceeded the national rate of birth for the first time in 2005.
The country’s population is estimated to be just under 143 million people.
See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Russian Demographic Situation Worsening – Abortions Outstrip Births
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/aug/05082404.html
Russian Abortion Killing and Sterilizing Millions; Demographic Collapse Likely to be Worse than Previously Predicted
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/apr/05041209.html
Latest Headlines
- BREAKING: US Congress Passes Health Care Reform Bill 220 to 215

- Stupak Amendment to Health Care Bill Passes 240 - 194 Saturday Evening

- Major Health Care Development - Pro-Life Stupak Amendment Vote OK'd for Today

- NY Times: Dems Banking on Later Squeezing Pro-Life Language Out of Bill in Committee

- USCCB Spokesman: "Definitely Not True" that Bishops Support Bill As it Stands

- TIME Got it Wrong - Prof. George Opposed Grandiose Kennedy Funeral

- USCCB Condemnation Tears Facade off "Phony" Abortion Compromise for Health Bill

- Health Care Bill Includes Monthly Abortion Premium: House Minority Leader Boehner

- TIME Article Setting Burke Against O'Malley Called "Tactical strike" on Behalf of Catholic Left

- Dirty Fighting on Abortion Funding: Word-Games and Health-Care Theatrics Boggle the Mind

- Commentary on November 6 News

- Note to LifeSiteNews Subscribers with Rogers email addresses

- New York Gov. Declares Nov. 10 Extraordinary Legislative Session for Same-Sex "Marriage"

- Washington's Pro-Family Amendment Effort Defeated - R-71 Almost Certain to Pass

- Vote Pushed Back on Canadian Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Bill to Dec. 2

- Elderly U.K. Couple in Good Health Commit Suicide, Complain of Assisted Suicide Law

- Texas Late-Term Abortionist and Baptist Minister Admits: "Am I killing? Yes, I am"

- New Evidence Contradicts CCHD's Findings on Accused Pro-Abortion Partner

- Quebec Priest Denies Possibility of Sexual Reorientation Therapy on TV

- New Hampshire Same-Sex "Marriage" Law in Crosshairs after Maine's Law Crumbles

- Brooklyn Bishop Criticized for Recorded Message Praising Pro-Abortion Politician

- First Group of "Traditionalist" Anglicans in Britain Votes to Enter Catholic Church

Most Read this Week
- Planned Parenthood Director Resigns after Watching Ultrasound of Abortion Procedure
- Nun Defiant Following Rebuke, but Stops Abortion Escorting
- Breaking: Dominican Community Apologizes for Nun Caught Acting as Abortion Escort
- TIME Article Setting Burke Against O'Malley Called "Tactical strike" on Behalf of Catholics Left
- Over 200 Christendom College Students Protest Abortion at Planned Parenthood Clinic
- Scottish Gay Rights Activists Found Guilty of Pedophilia Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
- Newly Identified Corporate Supporters of Planned Parenthood Named
- US Congress Passes Health Care Reform Bill 218 to 215
- Major Health Care Bill Development - Stupak Hyde Amendment Vote OK'd
- Health Care Bill Includes Monthly Abortion Premium: House Minority Leader Boehner
MORE NEWS:
LifeSiteNews.com Home Page
Last 10 Days
Archives
Special Reports
Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.








Back to Top