The Minister of Labour and Social Protection has reported that 903,200 babies were born from January through June 2013, or down 0.3% on the same period in 2012. At the same time, the Minister said 30 regions recorded an increased birth rate, over 3% in several regions. These include the Republics of Tatarstan, Karachayevo-Circassia, and North Ossetia–Alania, the Khabarovsk Territory, the Kaliningrad, Samara and Sakhalin Regions, St. Petersburg, and the Nenets Autonomous Area.

At the same time, the fatality rate is falling. In June 2013, 142,800 people died, which was 10,500 fewer than in June 2012. “It is the lowest monthly figure since 2004,” the Minister said.

For the first half of 2013, 956,000 people died, or 6,600 less than in the same period in 2012.

In six regions, the fatality rate decreased by over 6%. These included the Republics of Sakha (Yakutia) and Karachayevo-Circassia, the Amur and Magadan Regions, the Jewish Autonomous Region and the Chukotka Autonomous Area.

“June saw this year’s first registered natural population increase of almost 7,000 people,” Maxim Topilin stressed.

The natural population decline in January-June 2013 was as low as 52,900 people, or down 7.2% from January-June 2012.

At the same time, 34 regions recorded a natural population increase. These included the North Caucasian, Urals and Siberian Federal Districts, and in the Far Eastern Federal District, where a natural decline gave way to a natural increase.

Источник: Web-site of the Government of the Russian Federation