Positive dynamics of the birth rate which began in 2000 still continues. In 2004 24741 persons were born in the region, it is by 2,5% more than in 2003. The number of people of employable age is growing, in 2004 it was 61,3% of the entire region’s population. Since 2004 a tendency to reduction of population mortality was outlined. The number of deceased people was reduced by 1,6% against 2003 and amounted to 44324 persons. Annually the infant mortality rate reduces, in 2004 it amounted to 10,5 pro mil, when there was 11,6 pro mil on average in Russia. The number of divorces is reduced by 18,6% against 2003.

Basic Demographics

Readings	2 625,7
Number of residents, thousand persons	2 625,7
including:
Urban population	1933,3
Rural population	692,4
Correlation of sexes (according to census of population of 2002), men/women	1000 / 1171
Population growth (decrease), persons per 1 000 persons	-7,4
Number of born, persons per 1 000 persons	9,4
Number of deceased, persons per 1 000 persons	6,8
Infant mortality, pro mil	10,5>
Migration increase (decrease), persons	219
>Came	43 559
Went away	43 340
Number of marriages	17 497
Number of divorces	11 305
Average lifetime, years	65,8