Assessing the demographic potential of rural areas as a factor in their sustainable development (based on materials of Bryansk region)

The lag of rural areas in terms of level and quality of life in the urban areas, the underdevelopment of alternative spheres of activity predetermines a decrease in the rural population due to a decrease in the birth rate and an increase in migration outflow, which, in turn, determines the predominance of small and endangered rural settlements in the structure of rural settlement. One of the priorities in the implementation of state policy in the field of sustainable rural development is to stimulate demographic growth and create conditions for resettlement in the countryside. In the Bryansk region, since 2020, the State Program "Integrated Development of Rural Areas of the Bryansk Region" (2020-2025) has been implemented, which is aimed at preserving the share of the rural population in the total population and ensuring the creation of comfortable living conditions in the rural areas. The main objectives of the program are to meet the needs of the rural population for comfortable housing; creation and development of transport and engineering infrastructure; implementation of rural improvement projects; creating conditions conducive to attracting personnel and reducing unemployment of the rural population. In the long term (until 2030), such areas of state policy as maintaining their production and demographic potential remain relevant for the Bryansk region as part of ensuring sustainable development of the rural areas. In our opinion, in addition to achieving and maintaining the planned structural positions in terms of the proportion of the rural population in the total population, it is necessary, first of all, to ensure an increase in the absolute indicator of the population, including the rural one, based on the implementation of an effective demographic policy.