Demographic situation in Russia and social infrastructure

Abstract

The article considers the main indicators of demographic development of the Russian Federation in recent years in connection with the level of development of social infrastructure. It is shown that the demographic situation in the country is deteriorating, that is due to both subjective and objective reasons. Among the objective reasons, the main one is the change in the age structure of the population, which is expressed in a sharp decrease in the number of women in fertile age. This is due to the acute demographic crisis of the 1990s, «demographic waves» generated by the Great Patriotic War, and other factors. Among the subjective causes of the decline in birth rate, the article highlights the general patterns of reduction in the number of children in families as the level of socio-economic development increases, which are characteristic of all countries of European culture. In particular, the reduction in the number of children is facilitated by such factors as reduction in the share of officially registered families, increase in child support costs, and the financial difficultiesfaced by families with children during economic crises and stagnation. All these cases are typical for regions of the Russian Federation in recent years. Development of social infrastructure — education, healthcare, culture, sports, and other similar systems — could improve the demographic situation in Russia. Unfortunately, in recent years, such systems have been degrading rather than developing in Russia. This is facilitated by the system of statistical reporting that does not reflect the actual situation. The article proposes approaches that could overcome this shortcoming of the present statistical reporting system, thereby contributing to the demographic development of the modern Russian Federation.