YEREVAN. – The decline in the birth rate in Armenia in recent years is caused by the poor social condition in the country. 

According to ethnographer Armenuhi Stepanyan, the families in bad social conditions avoid having children, and this leads to a declining birth rate.

“As a result of poor social conditions, Armenia’s population is gradually decreasing,” Stepanyan said. “As a result, the number of marriages is dropping, the couples are avoiding having children, and this results in family instability.”

During the March 4 National Assembly hearing on the 2016-2018 national plan for improving the demographic situation in Armenia, Minister of Health Armen Muradyan had noted that the birth rate in the country has declined in recent years, and in the case when 80 thousand babies were born in Armenia in 1990, now this indicator is a mere 42 to 43 thousand.