Differentiation of natural population growth in Russian municipalities

After a long break in 2010, the population of the Russian Federation began to increase. But since 2016 in Russia, as in the period 1993-2012, there has been a natural decline in the population. And herewith, this decline has not stopped in most of the country in recent years. This is clearly seen in the analysis of the demographic situation at the level of municipalities of the first order - urban districts and municipal districts. Indicators of natural growth in them in the data for 2016 are better than in the first decade of the 21st century. But almost 80% of municipalities have negative population dynamics as compared to 2010, mainly due to natural decline. In some cases, depopulation is almost catastrophic - more than 2% annually. The article considers specifics of the dynamics of the natural population growth in Russian municipalities of the first order by types of municipalities (urban district or municipal district) and in the territorial context (by Federal districts). It is found out that negative trends are more inherent in municipal districts than in urban districts. The most difficult situation with mortality and fertility rates is in the municipalities of the Central, North-West and Volga Federal districts. The best demographic situation, as in previous decades, is observed in the North Caucasian Federal district. At the same time, its municipalities are gradually approaching the rest of Russia in terms of birth and death rates. This trend is mixed, since, on the one hand, it smoothes away excessive interregional socio-economic differentiation, and, on the other hand, it has a negative impact on the demographic development of the country as a whole.