The demographic structure of families and households in Russia, its dynamics according to population censuses

Abstract

An analysis of the demographic structure of families and households is essential for understanding the structure of society. Knowing the dynamics of the population structure is vital for addressing issues of economic development and, especially, of the education and health systems, social policy and the service sector. The regional and settlement features of the demographic structure play an important role in a differentiated approach to economic and social policy.

The paper looks at the 2020 population census (conducted in 2021) to analyze the demographic structure of households and family units and its dynamics, using materials from previous censuses and micro-censuses of the Russian population.

The typology of households presented identifies the main groups according to the presence or absence of a family unit (a married couple with or without children, one of the parents with children), the number of children and the composition of the household (simple - complex). The principles of the demographic typology of families in statistics were laid down by A.G. Volkov during the preparation of the 1970 census, and since then have been largely preserved, with some additions and clarifications of the definition being made due to the modern realities of family development.

The main results of changes in the demographic structure are the same as the long-term trend identified by previous Russian population censuses. Households in Russia are becoming smaller and the share of single households has grown significantly. The working age of people is increasing among single households, although this is typical only for the urban population. While it is important to note the decrease in the proportion of families with children, at the same time the number of children in these families is increasing. This is explained, to some extent, by changes in the system of measures of social support for families with children, as part of the ongoing demographic policy. The dynamics of the structure of family units shows a trend towards an increasing number of children over 18 years old living with their parents without starting own family, but also an increase in the nuclearization of family units.