It should be noted that the birth rate decreased until 2001, then it increased,
although a clear trend has not yet seen. It is important that general population birthrate
in most countries has the same trend. However, Ukraine has the lowest indicator among
the post-Soviet states.
Accordingly fertility rate in rural areas decreased. It is characterized by the
number of births per 1000 population. In 2013, it amounted to 12.3 against 13.8 in
1985, i.e. decreased by 10.9 %. Over the analyzed 28 years, the fertility rate has been
declining annually by an average of 0.1 %.
Life expectancy at birth in rural areas decreased among men from 66 years in
1985 to 64.5 years in 2014, i.e. 2.3%. Reducing this indicator is even more significant
when comparing it with this indicator in Europe, where the indicator reaches 76-79
years.
Life expectancy at birth among women also declined, but fluctuations compared
to 1985 is minor from 73 to 75 years. Thus, life expectancy at birth in rural areas
exceeds the given indicator for males by an average of 8-11 years. In any case, the
difference compared to European highest rates of life expectancy at birth for women is
8-10 years.
Positive points are decline in the infant mortality rate in rural areas in 2014
compared to 1985 level of indicator decreased by 47.5%. It is characterized by the
number of infants’ deaths under one year per 1,000 live births. In 1985 15.8 persons
died per 1000 infant, and in 2008, this number decreased to 8.3.
In general, rural mortality decreased: in 1985, it was 284,200 people, in 2014 -
240,600 people. However, Ukraine has the highest overall rate of mortality among the
45 countries of the world since 1990.
Since the death rate in rural areas exceeds the birth rate, rate of natural population
growth decreases. In 2014, the rural population decreased from 78,900 people to
37,600 people in 1985. Reducing rural population exceeded the corresponding level in
1985 more than 2 times (Fig. 19).
Accordingly, rate of natural population growth in rural areas decreases: in 1985
it was at -2.1 in 2013 is -5.4 per 1000 population, i.e. decreased by two times. In global
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