Russia's population fell by 507,400 people in the first eight months of the year to stand at 145.1 million as of September 1, Interfax cited the statistics committee as saying Friday.
The 0.3-percent drop compared to a 0.4-percent drop in population over the same period in 1999.
The death rate outpaced the birth rate at a ratio of 1.76 to one.
During his first state-of-nation address on July 8, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the population decline threatened "the survival of the nation."
Analysts have also underlined the impact of the population slip on Russia's economic and military status, as well as raising concerns over the male life expectancy of 60 years, compared to 72 years for women -- MOSCOW (AFP)
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