The economic crises and uncertainty on the labor market lead to a diminution in the intentions to give birth to children. The unstable socioeconomic situation increases the number of persons involved in international migration, which, in time, embraced an increasing number of young people. These are some of the conclusions of the Demographic Barometer carried out by the Center for Demographic Research, IPN reports.

Master of Demography Tatiana Tabac said that in response to the socioeconomic crisis of the 1990s, the country’s population went abroad in search for a job. The flows abroad continued to grow despite the modest improvement in the economic situation in 2000-2005. Labor migration was dominant until 2007. A new wave of migrants followed. These went abroad for reunification purposes. In 2007-2013, the flow of migrants varied between 45,000 and 55,000 people a year.

The Center’s director Olga Gagauz said the proportions of the demographic decline are very great. ”The Republic of Moldova entered a period when the population will decrease continuously and this decrease will be significant. As a result of emigration, we annually lose about 1% of the population. This indicator, compared with other European countries, is very high,” she stated.

The economic challenges and uncertainty on the labor market in 1994-2014 were among the main factors that reduced the wish of families to have children, especially the young ones. During the last few years, the fertility rate remains at the level of 1.6 children per fertile family, which is much under the level needed for the population to reproduce – 2.1.

The Barometer shows that the death rate for all the age categories followed a general upward trend. The standardized death rate in 1990-2014 rose by 44% for men and 30% for women. The high death rate determines a significant discrepancy between the Republic of Moldova and the EU countries in terms of life expectancy at birth, which in Moldova is of 65 years for men and 73.4 years for women, by 6-7 years lower than in the EU.

The authors of the Demographic Barometer proposed a set of recommendations for diminishing the impact of the economic crisis on the population. Among these is to invest in young people and to improve the conditions for giving birth and educating children by facilitating the accessibility of dwellings and reducing costs.