On November 2, Chechnya became the first federation subject
to make public the preliminary results of last month's Russian census. The republic's population was given as 1,236,000, compared with 1,088,816 at the time of the 2002 census. The population on January 1, 2006 was reportedly 1,183,000, and on January 1, 2007 -- 1,205,000.
Russian demographers who evaluated the 2002 census data for Chechnya
came to the conclusion that the total population was overstated by between one-fourth and one-third. Since 2002, Chechnya has experienced a classic post-conflict baby-boom. In 2003, the birthrate was said to be four times higher than the death rate.
The number of children born in 2004 was over 25,800; in 2006 - 27,989; and in 2008 - 33,661.
But statistic show that some 40 ...