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WHY ARMENIANS EMIGRATE AND DON'T WANT A SECOND CHILD: UNFPA SURVEY
10.08.2013 23:29 epress.am
A significant growth in emigration from Armenia, reaching the highest
figure in recent years, was recorded in 2013. According to the RA
State Migration Service, in January and February of this year, there
were 272,918 people leaving the country and only 250,079 arriving. In
other words, 22,839 left the country in just two months.
Official figures are cited in a United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA)
report on the demographic situation in Armenia, presented in Marriott
Hotel in central Yerevan today.
According to the survey findings, relatively young and educated
respondents said that, apart from economic reasons, their decision to
emigrate was due to a lack of opportunities for professional growth
and development in Armenia, as well as a desire to live in countries
that have a higher level of human rights protection, democracy,
and governance.
Around one-third of survey participants said they plan to leave the
country in the next two years.
Also cited as reasons to emigrate were concentration and monopolies
in the business sector, the level of independence of the courts is
questionable, and problems in the education system.
The authors of the study state that a significant portion of emigrants
went to Russia, mostly through the Russian government's Compatriots
program, which encourages and facilitates immigration from former
Soviet countries.
"Over the last four years, 26,000 Armenians applied to that program,
1,500 of whom renounced their Armenian citizenship and left for
Russia," reads the report.
Along with the trend of increasing emigration, the birth rate in
Armenia is declining. In 2010, this figure was 1.7 children per woman,
indicating a demographic decline. According to the results of UNFPA's
2009 study, 68.3% of the 1,139 survey respondent families said they
are not planning on having a second child, while 16.4% are and 13.6%
could not answer the question. According to the survey, financial
issues and a feeling of uncertainty towards the future were the main
reasons respondents were reluctant to have children.
10.08.2013 23:29 epress.am
A significant growth in emigration from Armenia, reaching the highest
figure in recent years, was recorded in 2013. According to the RA
State Migration Service, in January and February of this year, there
were 272,918 people leaving the country and only 250,079 arriving. In
other words, 22,839 left the country in just two months.
Official figures are cited in a United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA)
report on the demographic situation in Armenia, presented in Marriott
Hotel in central Yerevan today.
According to the survey findings, relatively young and educated
respondents said that, apart from economic reasons, their decision to
emigrate was due to a lack of opportunities for professional growth
and development in Armenia, as well as a desire to live in countries
that have a higher level of human rights protection, democracy,
and governance.
Around one-third of survey participants said they plan to leave the
country in the next two years.
Also cited as reasons to emigrate were concentration and monopolies
in the business sector, the level of independence of the courts is
questionable, and problems in the education system.
The authors of the study state that a significant portion of emigrants
went to Russia, mostly through the Russian government's Compatriots
program, which encourages and facilitates immigration from former
Soviet countries.
"Over the last four years, 26,000 Armenians applied to that program,
1,500 of whom renounced their Armenian citizenship and left for
Russia," reads the report.
Along with the trend of increasing emigration, the birth rate in
Armenia is declining. In 2010, this figure was 1.7 children per woman,
indicating a demographic decline. According to the results of UNFPA's
2009 study, 68.3% of the 1,139 survey respondent families said they
are not planning on having a second child, while 16.4% are and 13.6%
could not answer the question. According to the survey, financial
issues and a feeling of uncertainty towards the future were the main
reasons respondents were reluctant to have children.