If ratio of natality to mortality is 2:1, Moldova’s population will become stable, Austrian demographer

Moldova does not have adequately trained personnel to make and implement demographic forecasts, Austrian demographer considers. “There are practically no studies of death rate, birth rate and migration. Training is needed so that the Moldovan specialists could make forecasts and identify solutions to demographic problems,” Serghei Scherbov, department head at the Academy of Sciences of Austria, said during a press club meeting in Chisinau, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The birth rate in Moldova is very low, while the number of people has decreased considerably. If the ratio of natality to mortality is 2:1, Moldova’s population will become stable,” the expert said. Olga Poalelungi, national expert in demography and migration, considers that the efficient use of human recourses could help Moldova overcome the present social crisis. “The birth rate could be improved by economically supporting the child and families with children, offering them allowances, indemnities, preferential mortgage bonds, tax cuts, access to crèches and kindergartens, school canteens, school supplies,” Poalelungi said. “The experience of other countries shows that the combination of direct benefits with services intended for the child and families with children is more efficient than the use of only benefits.” In order to improve the birth rate, the national expert suggests formulating programs that would improve the quality of the medical services and the access to information about the risk factors. The demographic decline in Moldova slowed pace last year. The number of newborns was higher than the previous years, while the birth rate and death rate showed improvements. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the number of newborns in 2008 was 39,018, up 2.8% (1,045) from 2007. 51.5% of them were boys. The ratio of boys to girls was 106: 100. Last year, 41,948 persons died, down 2.6% (1,102) from a year earlier. In 2008 Moldova had a population of 3.572,7 million – 1.717,5 million men and 1.855,2 million women. The ratio of men to women was 100: 108.