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The decline in birth rate is by and large a European problem as well - while globally there is this situation that freddie described above, a disproportionate increase/decrease in the birth rate between the developed/developing countries and the third world. Granted, had the influx of immigrants from the former communist bloc not taken place, the prognosis for the half of the century would be just as grim for the whole of Europe as well. A UN report predicts that by 2050 the population of Europe will either remain the same in certain countries and decrease significantly in others. Italy, in particular, is expected to have a population decrease of 12 million ( from 57 to 45 ). While globally, Japan is gradually turning into a nation of aged people.
Russia is of course faced with an even sharper problem due to the aforementioned rise of the death rate; that is caused by a decline in health and a rise of violence and conflicts like Chechnya . AIDS alone is expected to claim the lives of 14 million people by 2050 ) while alcoholism, smoking and an unhealthy lifestyle in general play an important part too; at the same time that social welfare and the national health service are lagging dramatically. Abortion is the dominant if not the only method of birth control according to the report. That report states that a further 13% of young women who have an abortion will become infertile for the rest of their lives as a result.
Looking elsewhere on the report, while the indigenous population of Russia and Europe is declining, the population of USA is expected to hit 400 million by 2050 - an increase of 150 million; As the Russian life expectancy drops, US life expectancy will rise by 7 years.
Now, going back to the issue of Siberia. If the US or China have their way with the Siberian natural resources the consequences will be even more catastrophic for the environment. Siberia is not only a vast area of resources it also hosts a huge ecosystem preserved for centuries which will come under serious threat. Should that happen Siberia will become a vast depot of resources with a damaged ecosystem - very much like how the Amazon will be in due course - supplying the world with energy for our ever increasing needs.
All in all, the United Nation's report may paint a grim picture with regard to Europe's demographics, however the decline in population is expected to be equated by a massive influx of immigrants from india, Bangladesh and Africa ( which is expected to be 3 times the population of Europe even with the AIDS epidemic rampant ) And of course China, which now having further depleted its natural resources in return for massive economic growth has officially become the most polluted country in the world, and a huge factory that gratifies our insatiable hunger for consumerism.
Long live capitalism.
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