Ukraine's population drops precipitously

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - Ukraine has experienced a precipitous decline in its population since independence, according to Ukraine's chief health official.

"During the last six years Ukraine's population has declined by 1.15 million," said Andrii Serdiuk, Ukraine's minister of health, on July 8.

Speaking at a Verkhovna Rada "Government Day" session dedicated to the state of Ukraine's health, Dr. Serdiuk blamed the decline on a steady rise in the mortality rate and a simultaneous decline in the birth rate.

Ukraine's Ministry of Statistics puts Ukraine's current population at 50.9 million.

Minister Serdiuk said that in the past six years the average life expectancy at birth for males had declined by 3.5 years down to 61.2 years of age, and for females to 72.7 years. Almost one-quarter (24.3 percent) of reported deaths in that time are among working-age individuals. The most prevalent causes of death among able-bodied individuals are various traumas, accidents, malignancies and disorders of the circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems.

The health minister underscored the adverse effects on health that low-grade food stuffs and the popularity of moonshine distilled spirits were having on the population.

Also on the increase is the incidence of infectious diseases; 8.5 million cases were registered last year, said Dr. Serdiuk.

He also pointed out that there are 1.3 million disabled persons in Ukraine today - 60 percent of whom are of working age. Disabled children number 135,000.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 13, 1997, No. 28, Vol. LXV

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