Quality of the population of the Penza region as a most important socio-economic indicator of regional development

Introduction. Improving the quality of the population is an important task for socio-economic development of the Russian Federation as a whole, as well as for its individual regions. Improvements in quality characteristics of the population can only be achieved by raising the quality and standard of living. The aim of this study is to identify the dependence of the quality of the population on the level of socio-economic development in a region and on the solution of socio-demographic problems (taking the Penza Region as an example). Materials and Methods. An analysis of statistical data from the Federal State Statistics Service for the Russian Federation and the Penza Region for 2005-2018 was carried out. The methods of systems approach, comparative and demographic analysis, generalization, and statistical analysis were used to study the quality of population at the regional level. Results. Based on the analysis of primary statistical data, a high level of dependence of the quality of population of the Penza Region on demographic and socio-economic indicators of the regionʼs development has been identified and substantiated. The quality of the population of the Penza Region has been compared with other regions of Russia at the current stage and over time. The changes in the quality of population have revealed positive trends: an increase in the overall birth rate, reduction in the overall mortality rate, increasing natural growth rate of the population and life expectancy, growth of educational level of the population. At the same time, the natural growth rate of the population of the Penza Region has been much lower than the average level in Russia and below the indicators in the majority of constituent entities of the Volga Federal District, which is the most acute problem. Discussion and Conclusion. To date, the quality of the population of the Penza Region is a consequence of the increase in the level and quality of life in the region over the past 15 years, but in many respects it remains below the average Russian level. The results of this study can be used by the government of the Penza Region and other constituent entities of the Russian Federation when making decisions in the field of demographic and socio-economic policies.