Population dynamics of Russia: basic concepts, indicators, results for 1946-2017

On the example of Russia in the period from 1946 to 2017 the article provides an overall analysis of the population dynamics, its basic components, reproduction and migration. It expands the definition of "population dynamics", both in the broad and narrow sense. Under the population dynamics in the narrow sense, the author understands changes in the outcome general indicators of demographic development of a territory. When considering population dynamics in the narrow sense, it can be considered as positive, or ascending, if an administrative-territorial unit has a positive overall population growth for a sufficiently long period of time. This can be both in the case of simultaneous positive natural population growth and net migration, and if in one of the two areas of total population growth - the surplus exceeds the deficit (in absolute value) in another direction. Population dynamics can be considered as negative, or descending, if an administrative-territorial unit has a negative overall population growth for a sufficiently long period of time. This can be both in the case of simultaneous natural and migration population losses, and if one of the two directions of the negative balance exceeds (in absolute value) the surplus on another. Thus, the population of Russia since the end of the Great Patriotic War was steadily rising up to the year 1993, from 1995 to 2008 it steadily declined, and from 2009 to 2017 - again steadily grew. The article substantiates the necessity of an integrated and differentiated approach to elaboration of the measures aimed at retention and preservation of the positive demographic dynamics in the already coming period of depopulation in Russia.