The population of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) at the beginning of 2005 is estimated at 279 million people, reports the intergovernmental CIS Statistical Committee.
More than 50% of the population of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan and more than 60% of the population of Armenia, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine live in cities. In Moldova and Turkmenistan the rural population predominates - almost 60% of its total number; in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan the share of the rural population is 63-74%.
The number of economically active population in the CIS countries on average for 2004 is estimated at 129 million persons, including the number of employed - 119 million, unemployed (determined according to the methodology of the International Labor Organization) - 10 million persons. In the total number of employed population, the share of hired personnel in most countries of the Commonwealth fluctuates mainly within approximately 40-90% (in Russia - 92%, in Ukraine - 83%, in Moldova - 62%, in Kazakhstan - 57%, Kyrgyzstan - 41%).
The total number of unemployed, including the number of those seeking work independently (without applying to employment services), according to the latest sample surveys of the population, in the third quarter of 2004 amounted in Kazakhstan to 0.7 million persons (8.3% of the economically active population), Moldova - 0.1 million persons (7.9%), in Ukraine - 1.7 million persons (7.8%).
According to sample surveys of the population in Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine, the share of young people in the total number of unemployed varies from 23% to 45%. Women among those seeking work with the assistance of employment services, at the end of 2004 amounted to 44-56% in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Tajikistan; in other countries of the Commonwealth - 63-70%.
Based on RBC materials.