Demographic situation in small urban districts of Russia

The article presents the results of research to assess the demographic situation in small towns in Russia in comparison with the average Russian trends. The first part of the article reveals the relevance of the issue, which is mainly due to the possible impact of population outflow from small towns on the growth of asymmetry in the socio-economic development of Russian territories. The second part outlines the main results of the study and presents their detailed analysis. The authors, in particular, present the results of research confirming the presence of peculiarities in the demography of small towns in comparison with the general Russian trends. These features are mainly associated with a more pronounced migration of the population. The article provides evidence of the impact of socio-economic development indicators on the activity and nature of migration processes. Based on the grouping of small towns, the authors identified eight types of demographic situation, where the most common type is population decline against the background of high values of migration outflow, average or above average values of fertility compared to the national average. The forecast of the population in small towns with the largest migration outflow showed that in some cases, some small towns may receive the status of a «dead town» by 2050. In the third part of the article the authors made the main conclusions on the results of the study. For example, in order to reduce the migration outflow, the authors propose measures of state regulation, including development of anti-crisis programs and strategies of socio-economic development, programs of preferential housing loans and health care development.

demography, urban districts, small towns, population migration, population fertility, population mortality, state regulation of population migration