Socio-demographic interests of the population during the transition to a market economy

These are the results of a 1971 survey on reproductive behavior in the former Soviet Union. The survey covered 3,152 women aged 16 or over living in rural or urban areas. Questions were included on ideal, desired, and expected number of children. The results indicate that low fertility expectations characterize the majority of the population and that current political and economic problems are likely to push expected fertility even lower. Significant differences between rural and urban populations and among regions are identified.