Russian population ageing: regional aspect

According to the theory of demographic transition, in most developed countries processes associated with the transition of the society to a narrowed mode of population reproduction are currently taking place, characterized by low fertility and mortality. These processes vary from country to country. The article presents the author’s concept of demographic performance in modern Russia. The purpose of the paper is to study the regional features of the Russian population ageing in the context of modern demographic trends. It is indicated that the change in demographic indicators is characterized by four different periods associated with changes in trends of natural population reproduction. Since 2016, the second stage of depopulation has taken place, which is characterized by the fact that the balance of natural population reproduction demonstrated negative values again. Losses in total population in 2017 amounted to 24.0 thousand people (0.02%), since the beginning of 2018 - 40.6 thousand people (0.03%). The demographic ageing is becoming more intense. The population over working age in 2017 was almost 10 million more than the number of children and adolescents. The article demonstrates that the processes of population reproduction in Russia have significant regional differences affecting the number of elderly and old people. The oldest demographic region in Russia is the Tula Oblast where people aged 65+ make up 18.2% of the total population in the region, the “youngest” Russian constituent entity is the Chechen Republic (4.3% of the population is over working age). It is shown that the prospective value of old age in Russia is lower than in Europe, Japan, and the USA, differs significantly, and starting from the end of the middle of the last century had an anti-ageing tendency. It is concluded that the most important way to address one of the strategic goals of Russia’s development until 2024 associated with the increase in life expectancy, is creating a system of gerontological and geriatric care in the country. It is necessary to create a society for all ages to ensure the formation of conditions for using knowledge, experience, capacity of older citizens, taking care of such citizens, and providing them with the necessary assistance.