(MENAFN- AzerNews) By Rashid Shirinov
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's notorious statement in May, in which he claimed that the population of the country will reach 4 million by 2040, has become a objectof hot discussionsand ridiculeinthe public and expert community in Armenia.
Analysts continue noting that the population of the country is sharply declining and there are no prerequisites for a possible increase. Currently the population is even less than 3 million and given the trend, it will probably be under 2 million by 2040. However, Sargsyan still continues to believe in his pipe dream.
Last week, he held a meeting on demographic problems where again stated the objective to increase the population of Armenia to 4 million. He, however, admitted 'the problems of security caused by relations with neighbors, which, of course, have a negative impact on the demographic situation in Armenia.
Currently the country is not involved in a war, but people continue to leave abroad. This is the clear indicator of their dissatisfaction with the government and its activity. At this rate, the regions of Armenia will become completely empty in a few decades.
Official statistics confirm this. The indicators published in October show that Armenia's demographic situation has worsened even more in 2017. As much as 14,300 people left the country during the past year, according to the National Statistical Service, and in the last five years the number of permanent residents of Armenia decreased by 302,400. In addition, 2017 shows the lowest birth rate in the last five years.
Estimations saythat if the current trends of births, deaths, and leaving of the country continue, Armenia's population will decrease by 860,000, thus becoming about 2.14 million by 2040, by far not Sargsyan's desired 4 million.
Obviously, the problems of Armenia in relations with neighbors are the main trouble that affects the social and economic situation in the country, and thus causes the outflow of population. Because of these problems, Armenia misses the opportunity of participation in different regional projects, and the country has long turned into the black sheep of the region. The main of these obstacles, which prevents the well-being of the Armenian population, is, of course, the long-lastingNagorno-Karabakh conflict and illegaloccupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijan'sterritories.
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