POPULATION BULLETIN OF THE POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU

1994 - VOLUME 49, NUMBER 3

95.13.1 - English - Ian R.H. ROCKETT Population and health: An introduction to epidemiology

Epidemiology (epi, upon; demos, people; logos, study of) is the study of our collective health. epidemiologists contribute to the health and longevity of the population by identifying high-risk population groups, helping find he causes of disease or injury, and by evaluating prevention programs. This Population Bulletin reviews the history of population-based health science, explains the methods and materials of contemporary descriptive and analytic epidemiology, and discusses the ethical issues health scientists must face. (EPIDEMIOLOGY, METHODOLOGY, RESEARCH)

1994 - VOLUME 49, NUMBER 4

95.13.2 - English - Carl HAUB Population change in the former Soviet Republics

In 1991, the Soviet Union - the world's third most populous country - ceased to exist. This Population Bulletin looks at the population past, present, and future of the 15 new states created by the breakup of the former USSR. The demographic prospects for these countries looks very different now than it did just a few years ago, primarily because of a decrease in birth rates and a disturbing increase in death rates. The economic chaos and overriding pessimism that accompanied the political disintegration of the USSR produced dramatic demographic responses. Russia, which overwhelms the other 14 countries both in land and population, has experienced the most major changes - with a TFR of 1.4 and male life expectancy at birth at only 59 years by 1993. Russia, along with several former republics in Europe, is experiencing population decline from an excess of deaths over births. The USSR's breakup also has accelerated the transition to lower fertility in Central Asia. This Population Bulletin examines the demographic profile of each former Soviet republic within the context of its current economic and political situation. It also presents population projections to 2025 for each of the countries. Future population trends in the former republics, however, will depend upon economic and political developments in the coming decades. (COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES, USSR, DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILES, POPULATION PROJECTIONS)

Back to home page