Moscow, 29 January 2019. PenzaNews. The average age of the residents of the Penza region exceeds 42 years, whereas the demographic burden on the able-bodied population remains high. This was announced by Minister of Health of the region Vladimir Stryuchkov when making a report at an extended meeting of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy on Tuesday, January 29.

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Speaking about the general demographic situation in the constituent entity of the Russian Federation, he mentioned data as of January 1, 2018.

"The Penza region is a compact entity with a total population of 1,331,655 people, with a third of them living in rural areas. A characteristic feature of the Penza region is the ultra-high proportion of people older working age, along with a continuing trend towards increase in life expectancy," he said.

The minister added that over the past 5 years – from 2013 – the overall mortality rate had decreased by 4.1%, and that of the able-bodied population – by 16.8%.

"The standardized mortality rate for the main classes of death causes was 992.3 per 100,000 population, which is lower than the national average by 1.8%. We are still occupying a good place among regions of Russia when it comes to the infant mortality rate. In 2017 it amounted to 4.1‰, and in 2018 according to preliminary data – to 3.5‰," Vladimir Stryuchkov said.

He specified that life expectancy in the Penza region was 73.34 years. When this factor is considered, the region occupies the 21st place in the country.

"However, the demographic burden on the able-bodied population is still heavy. In the structure of permanent population 813 people of incapacitated age account for 1,000 people of able-bodied age. In Russia, the indicator equals 754. The proportion of persons over the working age in the Penzaregion is 29.6%, in Russia – 25.4%. The average age of residents in the region is 42.4, in Russia – 39.8," the head of the regional Ministry of Health said.