USSR nationality redistribution by republic, 1979-1989: from published results of the 1989 all-Union census

"An additional report on the results of the 1989 population census...describes changes in the ethnic composition of Soviet republics and other major regions (e.g., Siberia), as well as changes in the spatial distribution of the country's major ethnic groups. Data from the major 1989 Goskomstat source publication are refined and supplemented by information from more recent sources. Coverage is in a format similar to the reported ethnic results of the 1979 population census...to facilitate comparability."     

Changes in the population of larger cities of the USSR, 1979-1989

"An overview of the dynamics of Soviet cities of over 100,000 population for the period 1979-1989 is presented, based largely on maps and tables depicting five key 'subsets' or city groupings: (a) cities increasing by over 100,000 inhabitants; (b) the fastest growing cities in percentage terms; (c) their comparison with fastest growing cities, 1959-1979; (d) the slowest growing cities in percentage terms; and (e) their comparison with slowest growing cities, 1959-1979. The paper, by focusing on these parameters and utilizing extensively graphic and cartographic methods of data presentation, provides...insights into city growth trends...."     

A note on the Jewish population of the USSR from the 1989 census data

This note provides additional, more detailed information on the composition and spatial distribution of the Jewish population of the USSR in 1989. It supplements the author's previous study on the nationality distribution in the USSR.     

Economic region net migration patterns in the USSR: 1979-89

"This article investigates economic region net migration patterns in the USSR during the 1979-89 intercensal period. Net in-migration and net migration rate increases (compared to 1970-79) occurred in both the western and eastern portions of the Northern USSR region, while net out-migration and rate declines occurred throughout the Southern USSR. Net in-migration again occurred to Siberia, especially Tyumen' Oblast, and there was a reduced rate of net out-migration from the Nonchernozem Zone and Central Chernozem Region of European RSFSR."     

Regional population redistribution in the USSR: 1979-84

"The primary purpose of this paper is to assess very broadly the regional growth and redistribution of the total, urban and rural populations of the USSR, as well as aggregate, regional and city size patterns of urbanization for the 1979-84 period. In order to investigate the continuity or reversal of trends, comparisons with preceding intercensal periods will also be undertaken, particularly with the 1970-79 period." It is found that "regional rates of population change between 1979 and 1984 were generally lower than those of 1970-79, primarily due to a general decline in natural increase rates. In addition, regional variations in rates of population change for the 1979-84 period were similar to those of the 1970-79 period.... The USSR has apparently reversed its long-term trend of deconcentration in the sense that the population as a whole is becoming more concentrated again, but this time in a new area of concentration, Central Asia, which is now the most populous economic region."     

Regional population trends in the city of Moscow during the 1979-1989 intercensal period

"This article investigates regional population trends in the city of Moscow during the intercensal period of 1979-1989. Results indicate that the Outer Zone grew more rapidly than the Inner Zone, which experienced population decline overall. As a result, the population of Moscow continued to shift to the Outer Zone. Although the Inner Zone still had a higher population density, the density gradient between the zones had flattened appreciably. Regional population growth rates were strongly and positively related to changes in housing space."     

Urban settlement size trends in the former USSR: 1970-1989

"Based upon recently published data, this paper investigates urban settlement size trends in the former USSR and its republics during the intercensal periods of 1970-1979 and 1979-1989. Results indicate that although a trend toward largeness of the Soviet urban hierarchy continues, a slowing in this direction has occurred. Among republics, all had an increasing trend towards largeness on at least one and usually all three summary measures of urban settlement size structure. The RSFSR [Russia] and Armenia especially consistently evidenced a relatively high degree of largeness, while the former Baltic republics generally revealed a relative smallness."     

Regional trends in crude birth,death, and natural increase rates in Russia and the USSR: 1897-1989

"This paper establishes and discusses briefly regional patterns and trends in crude birth, death, and natural increase rates in Russia and the USSR from the turn of the century to 1989. The study is based on a comparable regional framework and placed in the context of the demographic transition theory. It discusses sources, collection, and quality of data, as well as necessary estimating procedures. An attempt also is made to examine briefly regional age-standardized rates."     

Changes in the metropolitan and large city populations of the USSR: 1979-85

"This paper investigates the post-census growth of metropolitan areas and large cities in the USSR from 1979 to 1985. The Soviet population continues to be increasingly concentrated in large metropolitan areas and large cities, and although suburbanization occurs within metropolitan areas, a striking feature is that all central cities continue to grow and typically contain the vast majority of the metropolitan population. This reflects the fact that individual large cities continue to loom large, despite policies to limit their growth. Although the growth rates of large cities have slowed, so have those of smaller towns, and a merging of growth rates by size class is occurring."     

Territorial differences in population growth in the USSR, 1970-79

The authors comment on an article by Bond and Lydolph (see 46: Title 1088) concerning population growth in the USSR during the inter-censal period 1970-1979. In the present article, the authors use a more detailed analysis of the preliminary results of the 1979 census in order to illustrate other major developments     

Use of the census of population to discern trends in the Welsh language: an aggregate analysis

The aim of this paper is to present a preliminary analysis of unitary authority level data from the 2001 census of population on the spatial (and, where available, temporal) patterns in proportions of Welsh speakers in Wales. In so doing we draw attention to the advantages (and limitations) of the census as a source of information on the state of the Welsh language. Although a 2 per cent increase in the percentage of Welsh speakers between 1991 and 2001 has been welcomed, several commentators have drawn attention to the change in the nature of the question asked at the 2001 census which may account for some of this increase. In this paper, we assess what is, and is not, possible to discern from the census, draw attention to other potential sources of information on the language and make some preliminary recommendations for those agencies concerned with monitoring trends in the future, both with regard to the need for more detailed language use surveys and the nature of the question included in subsequent censuses that would permit a more useful comparison of spatial and temporal trends.     

The ethics of population control in rural China, 1979-92

This article identifies some issues of importance in understanding China's policy of population control. This article presents evidence of trends in fertility, population policy, family planning, and socioeconomic change; and then discusses the conflict between fertility preferences and policy that is evident from studies of ideal family size and sex ratios. Some issues that are identified as "uncertain" include the extent of spread of family planning service delivery and its associated insurance schemes, local family planning policies and cadre responsibility systems, the demand for children, the demand for female children, the economic and environmental consequences of population growth, the fairness of reproductive restrictions and their application, and the extent of coercion in the later-longer-fewer policy era. It is argued that an ethical framework for analyzing China's population policy should include answers to questions about the harm to welfare from population growth, the government's right to demand voluntary reproductive sacrifice or to impose demographic or reproductive restrictions and punishment, and the government's right to impose coercion. If it is accepted that population growth in China has adverse consequences and its control would be beneficial to all, then it must be determined what the nature of the relationship should be between the state and the individual. The author refers to Walzer's (1983) position that the legitimacy of Chinese state power depends in part on whether political leaders at all levels are competent and not corrupt. The rights and duties of the government and individuals must be understood not just in terms of political legitimacy but also in terms of social justice. Social justice is dependent upon the degree of horizontal and vertical consultation and accountability, utilitarian consequences, and protected spheres of individual judgement. Utilitarian theories justify the one-child policy, while deontological theories support reproductive freedom as an absolute right.     

Recent population characteristics and growth in the USSR

"Data from the preliminary results of the 1989 census and Naseleniye SSSR 1987 permit analyses of age-sex structures of the Soviet population and distributions by civil divisions of natural growth rates, total population growth, urban growth, rural growth, percent urbanization, and growths of cities. The paper complements the treatment of census results by macroregions appearing in the November 1989 issue of Soviet Geography...by summarizing trends emerging at a finer scale of analysis and providing recent background information on demographic components of population change."     

'To define the indefinable': population classification and the census in South Africa

The population of many countries, including South Africa, has been classified into discrete groups from colonial times until the present day, for purposes of census enumeration. A reading of the census results requires an understanding of the subtleties and shifts of the classification system, which were frequently related to a definition of legal and political rights, including place of residence. The national census has tended to reinforce the groups it was initially meant only to observe.     

Regional migration and ethnic Russian population change in the USSR (1959-79)

"The related topics of regional net migration and ethnic Russian population redistribution and change in the USSR are investigated for the intercensal period 1970-79 in comparison to 1959-70 by economic regions and subdivisions. The results reveal that the main migration and Russian shifts continued to be from internal to peripheral regions. However, compared with the 1959-70 period, regional rates for 1970-79 were more equalized, and a south-to-north shift seemed to be occurring in both cases." The author notes that "aggregate measures...suggest that the traditional eastward movement of Russians is slowing. Correlation analysis indicates that migration and ethnic Russian change patterns are associated with selected indices of modernization. The south-to-north shift, in particular, has been fairly strong in relation to changes in capital investment. Prospects of a northward migration of Turkic Moslems from Central Asia are also discussed."     

The quality and qualities of population statistics, and the place of the census

Population counts are a key anchor for much of the official statistical system and the benchmark for many commercial and research surveys and analysis. Statistical offices around the world face a wide range of challenges in counting their population, most particularly in the years between censuses, as population flows become much freer and family structures continue to evolve. This paper considers these issues, reviewing how population counts have evolved over time in the UK and other countries. The paper also looks to the future, considering ways in which population count methodology might develop.     

The Soviet Far East: a report on urban and rural settlement and population change, 1966-1989

"This article provides a general overview of trends in urban-rural population change and evolution of the settlement system in the Soviet Far East since 1966, incorporating data published in the recent national statistical yearbooks and the preliminary 1989 census report....Total population in the Soviet Far East increased from 5,435,000 in 1966 to 7,941,000 by January 12, 1989, with the share of the urban population now comprising over three-quarters of the total. Migration patterns into and out of the region are discussed and cities planned for expansion are identified."     

Recent and prospective population growth in the U.S.S.R.: 1979-2025

"This report presents the results and assumptions of a set of projections of the population of the USSR, 1979-2025. Trends in population size and age-sex composition as well as fertility, mortality, and emigration are discussed.... The projections show that the population of the USSR will grow throughout the period to 2025. The working age population will grow very slowly for at least the next 10 years, and will not recapture the rapid growth experienced in the 1970s. The pension-age population will double in size between 1980 and 2025."