The future of Russia

Here is some good news at last out of Russia, whose population rate is well below replacement level: "Russian Abortion Rate Finally Declines." This report is from LifeNews.com:

Part of the blame for the high abortion rate lies at the feet of a horrible Russian economy. Following the collapse of communism, it took years for the economy to stabilize.

Now, following four years of better economic times, the Russian birth rate is finally back on the rise. Last year, there were 9.8 births for every 1,000 people compared to 9.1 the year before.

However, population experts still predict Russia, during the middle of the century, will be the largest country in the world but only have one-quarter of the population of the United States.

I have long been an admirer of the Russians and their rich cultural contribution in the arts and literature. The possibility of there being fewer Russians in the future can only be lamented. Thus any good news, however modest, is to be welcomed.