Abstract: The object of the exploration is the studying youth as a social group, and the subject is the analysis of the motivation to have or not have children. The research objective is to identify the reproductive attitudes of students. The actuality of the research is due to the fact that in Russia, since 2017, the birth rate has begun to decline. The solution of the demographic crisis is becoming one of the paramount tasks of the government. Special attention is paid to the analysis of reproductive attitudes of studying youth and the assessment of its possible impact on social and demographic processes. Understanding the factors influencing the demographic situation will allow us to further develop more effective social programs to support young people in their positive decisions regarding parenthood. The research methods are a sociological survey conducted in the spring of 2024 (selection=145) among studying young people aged 16 to 29 years, and a secondary analysis of data from the research centers Public Opinion Foundation, All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion and Levada Center. The originality of the exploration is the studying the opinions and views of studying youth on issues of reproduction, which is especially important in the context of a declining birth rate. Of particular importance to the analysis is the comparison of the results last year's data and the identification of trends and changes. The results of the study are the reproductive attitudes of young people towards parenthood as difficult period of life. There is a decrease in the number of desired children from two to one and an increase in the optimal and "late" age for the birth of the first child. Young people do not give up parenthood, but prefer to postpone this period for a more favorable time.

Keywords: reproductive age, the desired number of children, birth rate, demographics, marriage, family, motives for having children, reproduction, children, young people

Abstract: The subject of the research in this article is the migration sentiments of the modern youth of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). For Yakutia, both in Soviet and modern times, the importance of migration has always been enormous. Migration indicators are the most sensitive in relation to the socio-political and economic conditions of the development of the country and the region and require more careful research. The authors consider in detail such aspects of the topic as the socio-demographic characteristics of potential young emigrants from Yakutia, and preferred destinations for migration. Special attention is paid to the identification of the causes of migration that stimulate the active outflow of young people from Yakutia, the factors that shape migration moods among residents of the region. In addition, the article reveals the relationship between the potential migration activity of young people and satisfaction with the standard of living in the region, as well as the experience of traveling abroad.   The main research method was a questionnaire survey of residents of Yakutia aged 17 to 35 years, conducted in October 2023. 239 respondents from 9 districts of Yakutia and Yakutsk took part in the survey. The study revealed a high level of migration sentiment among the youth of Yakutia, more than 90% of respondents plan to move to another locality in the future, either to another region or abroad. The share of those wishing to move to another country was 46.6%, to another region of Russia - 52.2%. Emigration sentiments were highest among men aged 17 to 25, single, unemployed and students. The main reasons that encourage young people to emigrate are the desire to improve the quality of life, unfavorable natural and climatic conditions in the north, the desire to travel and a more fulfilling life. Dissatisfaction with the standard of living among young people leads to an increased desire to move to other regions of Russia or abroad.

Keywords: migration factors, sociological survey, willingness to move, emigration, reasons for migration, migration activity, youth, migration mood, population migration, standard of living

Abstract: The article considers the possibility of measuring the quality of life of the rural population using the author's formulas on the example of the Kulundinsky district of the Altai Territory. The data obtained during the sociological research were integrated into the author's formulas and used to calculate the quality of life index and the real quality of life. The methodology of this work was based on a combination of structural functionalism and a systematic approach. The article presents the results of the author's sociological research, which was conducted in the period from 2022 to 2023. The empirical data obtained became the basis for the derivation and application of the author's formulas for the quality of life. In addition, the data obtained make it possible to reflect the current state of affairs in modern rural areas, as well as to characterize the quality of life of the rural population both in terms of objective and subjective components of quality of life.  The process of researching the quality of life was carried out both by quantitative methods – a mass survey in the form of a questionnaire n=954, and by qualitative methods – a focus group n=108, an expert survey in the form of an in-depth interview n = 30, and an analysis of documents was also applied. The novelty of this work lies in measuring the quality of life of the rural population by applying two formulas: the quality of life index and the real quality of life. The results of the calculations completely coincide with the real state of affairs in the modern village, which gives the author the right to consider them workable and actually operating. The special value of this work lies in the possibility of extrapolating the methodology of this sociological study, in particular, the formulas of quality of life to other districts of the Altai Territory, as well as to other regions. This will allow the authorities to pinpoint and quickly identify problems in certain areas and resolve them promptly, which will lead to a further increase in objective and subjective indicators of the quality of life in modern rural areas.

Keywords: Social optimism, The phenomenology of the village, Rural life, Measuring the quality of life, Quality of Life Index, Perceived quality of life, The subjective component, The objective component, Quality of life, Sociology of the village

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to identify trends of surrogacy among the population of Russia in the XXI century. The relevance of the work is due to the interest of sociologists in family planning and the demographic situation in modern Russia, as well as the influence of Western culture on the domestic institution of the family. Methods of statistical and bibliographic analysis were applied. The work was carried out on the basis of a sociological survey. The object of the study is the socio-cultural sphere of Western and Russian society related to childbearing and family planning. The subject of the study is surrogacy. Special attention was paid to the attitude to this phenomenon, as well as modern trends related to surrogacy. The issue was considered both in the legal field and in the social sphere. The main conclusions of the study are: the need to improve the legal framework, the need to improve the protection of the rights of both surrogate mothers and people applying for this service. Nevertheless, in the course of the study, we found out that the sphere of family planning in Russia has not undergone any special changes and citizens still strive for independent childbearing. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the study of the assessment of citizens in relation to the possibility of having a child using surrogate motherhood. It is worth noting that this attribute of family planning is characteristic primarily for citizens of Western countries. The author's special contribution to the study is to establish the fact that there are no contradictions between the development of the traditional concept of family relations and innovations that are actively practiced in the West and form the entire financial industry.

Keywords: surrogacy, gestational surrogacy, legal assessment, social institute, family values, family institute, traditional family, feminism, family planning, demographics

Abstract: Based on the materials of a sociological study conducted in March – October 2021, the main reasons for changes in reproductive attitudes in urban families are considered, models of reproductive behavior are analyzed: "deferred parenthood", "responsible parenthood", Childfree, which are shared by the majority of modern youth. The source of empirical data was an online survey of students. The sample consisted of 2,439 students. In addition, a telephone survey was conducted, which was attended by 600 representatives of urban families of different ages in Yekaterinburg. The reproductive attitudes of young citizens have been revealed, which conflict with the traditional ideas of older generations about the preferred age of marriage and the birth of the first child. Our research suggests that the reproductive attitudes and behavior of young people are transformed from a value-rational model to a goal-oriented one. Purposeful reproductive behavior is a phenomenon of modern life strategies of young people. Such behavior presupposes the freedom of individual reproductive choice: a conscious decision to have children or refuse to procreate. At the same time, the younger generation does not reject the scenarios of matrimonial behavior and the birth of children of older generations, supports "pro-family" values. The authors believe that it makes sense to study this value conflict and take it into account as a "subtle tuning tool" in shaping the policy of stimulating fertility.

Keywords: birth rate support, demography, matrimonial attitudes, intergenerational conflict, Childfree, responsible parenthood, delayed parenthood, reproductive behavior, reproductive attitudes, family values

Abstract: In the article, abortion is presented as one of the indicators of the demographic transition, characterized by a low birth rate and mortality, a change in marital and family behavior, and the transformation of the composition of the population of modern Russian society. The practice of abortion is in the center of our attention and is considered in interaction with other social phenomena.The purpose of the study is to determine the factors influencing the practice of abortion in the current demographic situation. As the methodology of this research, the authors of the article use the analysis of the scientific literature of domestic scientists, the results of their own sociological research and the results of sociological research of VTSIOM.The authors identify socio-cultural, institutional, psychological factors that influence the practice of abortion. At the individual level, a woman's attitude to "unexpected pregnancy" plays an important role, the availability of opportunities for termination of pregnancy (formal and informal rules and regulations, legislative acts, public approval or condemnation), the perception of abortion as a social problem, forms of behavior of individuals participating in the practice of artificial termination of pregnancy. The novelty of the study is presented as an analysis of the factors that influenced the practice of abortion and the results of the author's sociological research. The analysis of scientific literature has shown that the traditions that have developed in a particular society, the level of development of the health and education system, as well as the specific situation in which a woman who decides to have an abortion finds herself are of great importance. The results of sociological research, official statistics show that formal and informal norms and rules, the development of pharmacology, the emergence of new methods of contraception, changes in basic institutions have an impact on the practice of abortion in the context of demographic transition.

Keywords: sociological research, woman, termination of pregnancy, abortion, factors, individual, structural, new methods of contraception, modern society, demographics

Abstract: The object of this research is the cities of Russia, while the subject is the dynamics of regional capitals by population size in post-Soviet period. The goal is to determine the types of dynamics and patterns of their territorial distribution. The typology considers the decline in population size in 1990s – 2010s and its subsequent restoration. In the course of research, the author processed statistical information based on population size of the cities and socioeconomic characteristics of regions of the Russian Federation. The areal approach was applied for determination of large territories with certain types of dynamics of the cities. The author is first to carry out classification of the dynamics of population size in post-Soviet Russia, highlighting the following four parts: extended restoration, incomplete restoration, stable growth, stable decline). The areas with most widespread types are defined. It is concluded that after a decline in 1990s – 2010s, in a relatively large part of regional capitals of Russia (about 42%), the population exceeded the size of 1991 by 2020. The dynamics of population size of regional capitals of national entities looks more favorable than the dynamics of regional capitals of the counties. A large monolith area of incomplete type of restoration covers the majority of Volga Region, Central Non-Black Earth area, part of Central Black Earth area and Northeastern European Russia. The type of extended restoration has two main monolith areas, one of which covers a part of Central Black Earth area and South-West, while another – the majority of Ural and Western Siberia, and a part of Eastern Siberia. Socioeconomic characteristics of the region, which reflect the level of its development and well-being, have correlational ties with dynamics of a regional capital, but do not fully explain the origin of areas of particular type of dynamics.

Keywords: macroregions, areas, sustained decline, sustained growth, incomplete recovery, extended recovery, types of dynamics, Regional capitals, territorial distribution, socio-economic characteristics

Abstract: This article presents a brief overview of the modern concept of gender selection and theory of parental investments, according to which the ration of genders in society manifests as a key forecaster of the level of polygyny on the marital market. The theory predicts that in shifting of the models of marital behavior from monogamous and polygamous, the level of matrimonial investment can decrease. The authors suggest that such targeted decrease of resources in the regions with low coefficient of genders can exert negative impact on the economic parameters of household in these regions. This research provides quantitative assessment of subjective satisfaction with financial position of the members of households in populated areas (N=10385) with various levels of coefficient of genders. The statistical analysis was conducted using the IBM SPSS software with application of the following methods: Pearson's χ2 criterion, Goodman and Kruskal's gamma (γ) criterion, and dispersion analysis. The acquired results confirm the presence of positive interconnection between the level of coefficient of genders in the region and financial wellbeing households. It was determined that in the regions of the Russian Federation with equal ration of male and female population, as well as in regions with predominant male population, the subjective assessment of own financial wellbeing was higher among both, men and women. The factor of sustained imbalance in the ratio of genders represents one of the relevant questions of Russian demography, but this phenomenon is rarely taken into consideration in quantitative research within social sciences.

Keywords: paternal investment, socioeconomic status, human capital, mating strategy, parental investment, monogamy, mating market, polygyny, sex ratio, Russia’s missing men

Abstract: This article observe the trends that have emerged over the recent years among student youth regarding the institution of family and having children, which negatively affect the demographic situation in the country. The question of preparing students to future family life is extremely relevant. The subject of this research is the socio-psychological aspects of the formation of attitude on starting a family among student youth. The object is the students of Primorsky Krai. Special attention is given to students’ assessment of the factors deteriorating birthrate in the region. The research is based on analysis of the data acquired from various sociological surveys on studying socialization processes of student youth in the modern society. It is determined that the orientations towards starting a family and having children decisively form while studying in the university. Therefore, the educational establishments should dedicated due attention on preparing students to family life. It is necessary to develop the effective instruments for influencing social orientations on stimulating the process of family building. The universities should host mass events for increasing communication skill of the student youth. Currently, there are no mechanisms developed in the Internet for influencing the young generation; thus, this problem requires immediate solution.

Keywords: family planning, social support, quality of life, values of family life, demographic situations, procreation, young family, student youth, online survey, quality data analysis

Abstract: This article explores separate elements of the socioeconomic environment exerting influence upon the reproductive plans of women of various generations. The goal of this article is to determine the factors contributing to or impeding the realization of the reproductive plans of women and the variability of this influence. The generation of indigenous minorities born in the 1990’s, and now reaching the childbearing age demonstrate visible changes in the reproductive plans of the population of the northern region, which was formerly known for its high birth rate. A direct correlation is determined between the model of the parental family and plans for childbirth in the families of respondents. The information base consists of materials from the socio-demographic polling conducted through questionnaires from thirteen administrative districts of Yakutia during 2017-2018 (n = 833). It is established that the decision-making for having a child is greatly influenced by financial situation, and that living conditions along with uncertainty of tomorrow and state of health impact the reproductive plans of urban women more than rural women. The results of this research allow concluding that the place of residents of the respondents is a socioeconomic element of its own, exerting substantial influence upon the reproductive plans of the generations, which underlines the importance of consideration of this factor in development of measures of birth support on the state level.

Keywords: socio-demographic survey, socio-economic environment, expected number of children, desired number of children, generations of women, reproductive plans, northern region, family, respondents, demographic processes

Abstract: The subject of this research is the demographic policy of the People’s Republic of China. The demographic structure of China and the inherent at present stage demographic processes cause a number of issues that require prompt government’s intervention. At certain stages of its development, the Chinese society has experienced the evolution of economic, political, law, social, and many other institutions. Therefore, this article examines the demographic issues of PRC in close relation with the misbalances in socioeconomic and other spheres of life of the Chinese society. Based on the rich factual material, it is demonstrated that PRC as a hyperpower has entered the era of complex contradictions between the key competitive advantages of the country along with its intrinsic issues. According to the results, the demographic processes in China are a significant factor impeding the future socioeconomic development of the country. The author proves that the demographic situation in PRS is a substantial threat to the stability of the country, and thus, needs a revolutionary revision of value orientations of the demographic policy.

Keywords: Socio-economic development, Overpopulation, Population ageing, Demographic policy, Contradiction, Imbalance, Demography, Superpower, PRC, Regulation

Abstract: Russian Caucasus was always notable for its relatively favorable demographic rates. However, the transformation of reproductive and migration behavior under the new circumstances affected this region as well. The conducted research is called to determine the cultural and mental peculiarities that influence the demographic parameters of the subjects of North Caucasian Federal District. The matrimonial, family and migration intentions of modern youth of North Caucasus is the subject of this work. Special attention is given to comparison of the matrimonial, reproductive and migrations orientations of young people that reside in the subjects of North Caucasian Federal District with the nationwide statistics. The university students from the cities Makhachkala, Kizlyar and Karachayevsk participated in the survey. This survey was a part of a more large-scale study that involves 16 cities of the Russian Federation. The volume of the analyzed in the article selection contains 291 questionnaires. The results demonstrate that the youth of North Caucasus unlike young people from other Russian regions, enter the marriage and have their first child at a much earlier age, as well as oriented towards multiple children family. Modern youth of the North Caucasian republics overall shows neutral attitude towards the interethnic marriages. Analyzing the migration intentions of young people, the authors note the “elevated sense of patriotism”: as the territory for application of professional knowledge and creation of family, they choose Russia more often than the youth from other Russian regions.

Keywords: youth, intermarriage, transformation, reproductive intentions, migration intentions, marriage attitude, family, regions of the North Caucasus, survey, questionnaire

Abstract: The subject of this research is the illegitimate fertility of population, which represents one of the urgent demographic problems for modern world and is relevant for urban and rural areas of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). The goal of this article lied in determining the scale and rate of spreading of illegitimate fertility, portion of various age groups therein, describing the objective and subjective factors that lead women to giving birth out of wedlock. Accent is made on the analysis of incentives towards making a decision to give birth to a child out of wedlock. The information base contains the data of the current statistics of birthrate considering the place of residence and age of a mother, two latest Russian censuses, as well as materials of sociological surveys conducted by the authors among the population of the republic in 2008 and 2017 in form of the focus group interview. The authors determine the direction and scale of the changes in birthrate, including birth out of wedlock by urban and rural areas from 2001 to 2016. There has been a decrease in the portion of young mothers under 25 and an increase in fertility out of wedlock in the older birth cohorts. It is revealed that women feel more independent with age in realization of their reproductive plans, as well as less committed to adhering to social disapproval even in rural areas with predominant traditional model of matrimonial-family relation. A conclusion is made that social outlook on the phenomenon of illegitimate fertility is tolerant regardless of the place of residence of the respondents. At the same time, it is recognized that the socio-demographic consequences of this phenomenon are multifaceted and cause substantiated worry for the future of the institution of family and marriage.

Keywords: sociodemographic survey, single motherhood, reproductive plans, age cohort, childbearing age, marital status, incomplete family, illegitimate fertility, group focused interview, Yakutia

Abstract: This article examines the demographic situation in the southern regions of Russia – Astrakhan Oblast, Volgograd Oblast and the Republic of Kalmykia. The research leans on the analysis of statistical data, acquired as a result of the public opinion poll. The survey was carried out in 2017 at the premises of Civil Registration departments of the three districts. The survey involved 580 respondents, consisting of 262 males and 318 females; 147 respondents from Astrakhan Oblast, 171 – from Volgograd Oblast, and 262 – from the Republic of Kalmykia. According to the statistical data in two regions (Volgograd Oblast and the Republic of Kalmykia), the size of urban and rural population is decreasing. Astrakhan Oblast demonstrates the decrease in size of urban population and the increase in size of rural population. The research results testify to the fact that over half of the respondent believe that the population size in their region is decreasing. Less than 30% of the surveyed assume that the population size in the region is stable; while 16.4% assess the demographic situation in the region as “population growth”. The conducted analysis allows comparing the main demographic trends determined by the statistical data and population of the southern regions of Russia. The demographic development of the southern regions of Russia is characterized by the interregional differentiation. Population assessment of demographic situation reflects the actual situation in the region. Over half of the respondents from Volgograd Oblast and the Republic of Kalmykia indicate that the population size in their region is decreasing.

Keywords: questionnaire survey, statistical data, region of Russia, demographic trend, population size, population growth, population decline, rural population, urban population, demographic situation

Abstract: The subject of this study is the demographic situation in modern Great Britain that at the present stage experiences a rapid increase in population. The article analyses the key demographic indexes and main channels of migrants’ flow into the country at the brink of XX – XXI centuries. Particular attention is given to the age pattern, composition of the families, birth and death rate. The author also examines the negative trends in demographics of the indigenous British population throughout the late XX – beginning of the XXI centuries. The scientific novelty consists in the use of sources that have not been previously introduced in the academic discourse, as well as extensive cover of the statistical data on this matter. Over the recent decades, Great Britain experiences the large-scale demographic changes characterized by the massive influx of migrants and practical extinction of the British people. The current outburst of population size of the country is provided by the constant migration from Asia, Africa, and new member-states of the European Union, as well as high birth rate among the immigrants. The mainstream population of Great Britain undergoes a permanent demographic crisis, which leads to the fall in rate of birth below the natural reproduction, increase of the median age, and departure of the active citizens from the country. Thus, in parallel with the overall increase in population of the country, there also take place a rapid substitution of the ethnic and religious composition of the population by the non-European minorities. In the nearest future, such process will inevitably result in the tectonic shifts in all spheres of life of the British society.

Keywords: population, EU, average age, mortality, fertility, demography, emigration, immigration, Great Britain, statistics

Abstract: The subject of this research is the modern processes of marriage and divorce of the population. The article examines the main factors of marriage that significantly influence the demographic situation of the Northern underpopulated region. The author traces the course of such process in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) in the XXI century, as well as analyzes the territorial differentiation of nuptiality.  Special attention is given to the question of the stability of marriages. Based on the materials of sociological survey of the youth, the author examines the peculiarities of their relation to starting a family, official marriage registration, and civil marriage. The article applies typological method of analysis; type-forming indicators imply the direction and intensity of accession rate in the number of registered marriages and divorces that comprise the typology of Yakut districts. The author implements the method of questionnaire for determination of opinion of the youth on family and forms of marriage, as well as identifies noticeable quantitative differences of nuptiality in accordance with the groups of districts. Moreover, differences are noted not only over the whole observation period (2000 – 2015), but in the intermediate period as well. Among the factors of decline in marital activity of the population, a certain place belongs to the expansion of civil marriages. The main results of the survey of students demonstrate that modern youth clearly distinguish the forms of marriage. Thus, in their opinion, formal marriage focuses on the family, children, and civil – only on an individual. In the conditions of transformation of the place of family and marriage within the value system of society, this confrontation is likely to increase.

Keywords: intensity of changes, questionnaire , youth, civil marriages, type-forming factors, typology, divorce, marriage, Yakutia, Northern region

Abstract: This article examines the phenomenon of youth unemployment in the European Union. It is underlined that the socioeconomic phenomenon that is directly dependent on demands of the market, under the circumstances of current instability causes concern for the fate of millions of the young residents of Europe. The author gives special attention to the analysis of positions of the youth in South Europe, where has developed the most dramatic situation throughout the entire history of the EU. The text contains references to a number of documents that regulate the questions of youth policy and employment at the supranational level. The author provides statistical data alongside analysis of the indexes of Eurostat on the number of unemployed among various age groups. The conclusion is made that in the established difficult situation on the job market, which faced the young professionals, besides the tense economic circumstances, an important role is played by the social aspect of the question, as well as the national peculiarities of the state. It is determined that due to the low level of competitiveness because of lack of education and other reasons, the process of restoration of the previous indexes of youth employment will require time and significant costs.

Keywords: Eurostat, Sustainable growth, Supranational policy, Education, NEET, Employment, Youth policy, Economic crisis, Youth unemployment, European Union

Abstract: This article presents a comparative analysis of the reports announced at the XVIII World Congress of Sociology held in Yokohama, Japan in July of 2014. All reports considered the questions of aging, subjective well-being of elderly people, economic aspects of population aging and other questions concerning this area. The aim of the paper is to define the main tendencies in studying aging questions that interest the world sociology under the growth of life expectancy, population aging, i.e. increasing cohort of elderly people in relation to youth and those in midlife in the structure of population, taking into account the current economic crisis and cutting budgets income basis.The results are grouped according to the following criteria with their detailed characteristics:1) the level of social and economic development of the societies which have become the objects of the research: welfare states, developing countries and undeveloped countries;2) the cultural peculiarities.3) the subject of research.

Keywords: intergenerational relationships, successful aging, care for the elderly, third age, later years, agism, elderly people, aging of population, subjective wellbeing, age-friendly communities

Abstract: The article analyzes "The Concept of Demographic Policy of the Russian Federation 2025" which is the basic document defining the activities of public authorities in the field of human reproduction. The author has identified the shortcomings encountered in the development and implementation of national population policy in the Russian Federation. In particular, the key issue in the implementation of the state population policy is the lack of objective criteria for evaluating the policy. In addition, the institutional weakness is the lack of a single coordinating body responsible for implementation of government measures in the field of demography. In the study justified measures to improve the state of population policy, the main ones are: the creation of a single body responsible for the implementation of population policies, development of clear and objective indicators to measure the effectiveness of implementation of demographic policy, stimulation public authorities transformation of socio-cultural environment in the direction of the revival of traditional family values and healthy lifestyles; migration policy should go into the general context of population policy.

Keywords: demographic policy, demographic determinants, birth rate, death rate, migration inflow