But yes, HA, what they really need is Mr. and Mrs. Ivanov to give each other a significant ogle, hop between the sheets and make like bunnies. Russia needs more Russians. No Russian kids=no Russian future, an easy lesson but one which many nations have sadly forgotten.
Expect stats like these to hyped up to a crescendo by the Kremlin heading into March.
Putin is seeking “re-election” (a virtual shoo-in barring an act of God as the results are rigged and there are no legit opponents) - but *turnout* and voter apathy is the govt’s concern.
Putin still has the loyalty of much of the public but he is not taking any chances.
* He has promised to relieve debts for a bunch of Russians.
* He is upping the incentive pay for new mothers to show he is tackling the demographic crisis.
* New restrictions on free speech and internet freedom have gone into effect the new year...
All while:
Sanctions are biting, oil prices have not been on their side, healthcare and living standards have deteriorated BUT not to such a point as to worry about massive unrest or anything.
However, protest mood is still relatively high: from striking truckers, to the tens of thousands strong youth protests across the country last March and June organized by opposition leader Alexei Navalny (who is barred from running for pres.), and growing conflicts over things language (Tatar vs. Russian) in the Muslim republic of Kazan, etc...
But overall, people just want stability and they have things like the World Cup to look forward to. (Hosted by Russia this year.)