The natural decline of the Russian population (the number of those born minus the number of those who have died) in January-November 2010 amounted to 226,700, which is 2,400 more than in the same period of the previous year, corporate-owned Russian news agency Interfax reported on 27 January, quoting the Federal State Statistics Service, Rosstat.

In January-July the natural decline of the population was still 166,000 and was by 18,000 less than the previous year. However, taking into the account figures for August, which was famous for anomalous heat and fires, the dynamics already changed and the natural decline in January-August was 198,300 (15,300 more than in the same period of the previous year).

The number of deaths in January-November 2010 was 1,862,900 people, which is 28,300 more than over the 11 months of 2009, Interfax said.

The number of those born in Russia was 1,636,200 people, which is 25,900 more than over the same period of 2009.

The natural increase of the population in January-November 2010 was registered in 24 constituent parts of the Russian Federation (in January-November 2009, in 25 constituent parts of Russia).

According to Rosstat's estimates, the size of Russia's "permanent population" on 1 December 2010 was 141,800,000 people, Interfax said.

Rosstat will obtain "a precise estimate" of the population on the basis of the census, which was carried out in October and the first results of which are expected to be published in March-April 2011, the report added. '