By Vestnik Kavkaza
The North Caucasus takes one of top places in Russia for population density, but local demographic problems differ from those which are typical for Central Russia. Experts say that common problems for the NCFD and other Russian regions are presence of a big amount of migrants, a selective territory of their settlement, and unsolved social issues. However, there are specific problems.
Anatoly Vishnevsky, Russian demographer and economist, told Vestnik Kavkaza that “the republics of the North Caucasus, the peoples of the North Caucasus are passing through a stage which Russia and other nations have already passed through – the so-called stage of a demographic shift, characterized by demographic booms: high birth rates and low mortality, as the population grows fast. When the population grows, while a territory remains the same, obviously, it becomes crowded, and various social problems appear.”
According to Vishnevsky, a number of young people and children grows: “Previously people gave birth to many children, but many people died. Today people are being born, but fewer people are dying. So there are many active young people who don’t know what to do, and this leads to certain tensions, including in the political sphere. The existing tensions in the North Caucasus come from the demographic processes.
The demographer says that it is a difficult period in the life of the North Caucasus: “Many countries have passed or are passing this period at the moment. Some people think that the Arab revolutions are connected with this. There is a notion of “a youth hump”, when there are too many young people and not enough space for them. It causes tensions. It is very sad to see how young people die, even though they could live. It doesn’t matter whether they die because of being involved in crime or because of standing up for their rights, it is not good when they pay for this with their own lives.”
Speaking about the demographic situation in the South Caucasus, Vishnevsky noted: “It is different, except for Azerbaijan where the birthrate is high. However, the situation is changing there as well. The republics, especially Armenia and Georgia, passed a period earlier; I mean the period which is taking place in the North Caucasus and Middle Asia, there are many similar features. As for Azerbaijan, the economic situation is favorable there.”
