The section presents data on population size, birth rate, death rate, as well as on migration processes.

Population censuses are primary sources of data related to population. The latest Russia Population Census was conducted in 2010 as of October 14.

Data on the total population size, are given for resident population covering permanent inhabitants of the given territory, including temporary absentees during the census period.

Data for January 1, 2015 is given with regard to the population size of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol. The estimation of the population size of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol was made taking into account the results of the 2014 Population Census in the Crimean Federal District.

Population is comprised of urban and rural population according to their place of residence. Settlements are treated by the legislation as belonging to the urban category and are regarded as urban settlements. All other settlements are considered as rural.

The information on such events as births, deaths, marriages and divorces is received on the basis of annual processing of data contained in the records on birth, death, marriages and divorces respectively filled in by civil registrar offices. Only live births are recorded.

Since April, 2013 due to changes (Order of the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development of the Russian Federation №7n from 16.01.2013) to the Order of the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development of the Russian Federation № 1687n from 27.12.2011 "On medical criteria for a birth, the form and issuance procedures of a birth certificate") births and deaths of low birth weight infants (weighing less than 500 grams) are subject to registrar records, if they survived 168 hours (seven days) after birth.

The minimum age for marriages in the Russian Federation set by the law is 18 years both for males and for females.
In some cases, according to the decision of local authorities, it may be reduced although not more than by 2 years.

The date of marriage is the date of its registration in the civil registrar offices. Marriage is considered dissolved from the moment of divorce registration.

The source of information on the causes of death is represented by inscriptions in the death certificates issued by physicians concerning diseases, accidents, homicides, suicide or other external causes (injuries caused by actions envisaged by law, non-specified injuries - seldom or planned, injuries as a result of military actions) being the cause of death.

Before January 1, 1999 records of deaths by causes of death were compiled according to the Short Mortality List (1981) based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries and Causes of Death, WHO Rev. IX (1975). Since January 1, 1999 the records of deaths by causes of death have been compiled according to the Short Mortality List (1997) based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, WHO Rev. X (1989). From January 1, 2011 records of deaths were compiled according to the 2010 Short Mortality List, based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Rev. X (1989).

Crude birth and death rates are calculated as a ratio, correspondingly, of the number of live births and deaths during a calendar year to the mid-year population. They are calculated in promilles (per 1000 of population).

Natural increase rate is the difference of crude birth and death
rates. It is calculated in promille (per 1000 of population).

Crude marriage and divorce rates are calculated as a ratio of number of marriages and divorces registered within a calendar year to the mid-year population. Similar to crude birth and death rates, they are calculated in promille (per 1000 of population).

Mid-year population is calculated as an arithmetic mean of population at the beginning and the end of the corresponding year.

Total vital statistics rates are used, as a rule, for estimation of current population changes in general for estimating population size changes. Alongside with crude rates, a set of specific coefficients are used to get expanded (complete) characteristics of demographic situation.

Among them:

life expectancy at birth, is a mean number of years to be lived by a person from a hypothetical cohort, assuming the mortality level for every age remains the same as in the years for which the rate is calculated;

death rates by causes is a ratio of deaths by causes specified to mid-year population (by current estimates). They are calculated per 100 000 of population;

infant mortality rate is calculated as a sum of two components, the first of which shows the ratio of the number of deaths under one year from the generation born in the year for which the rate is calculated, to the total number of births of the same year, and the second component shows the ratio of deaths under one year from the generation born in the preceding year, to the total number of births of the preceding year. This rate is calculated in promille (per 1000 of live births).

Data on international migration is obtained from documents supplied by territorial bodies of the Federal Migration Service which are filled in while registration or deregistration of population at the place of residence.

Since 2011 individuals registered at the place of stay for the period 9 months and more and individuals deregistered due to the end of their period of stay have been included to the statistical registration of a long-term migration.

Terms "arrivals" and "departures" characterize migration to a certain extent conditionally as the same person may change place of permanent residence more than once within one year.

Information on forced migrants is published using data of the Federal Migration Service on the number of citizens of the Russian Federation and foreign citizens who were granted temporary asylum, refugee or forced migrant status, and are registered at territorial divisions of the FMS of Russia as of January 1.