YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia is numbered among aging countries, as 12.7% country's population are people aged 65 and above. According to forecasts, in 5-6 years that index will make nearly 20-21% in Armenia. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed about it by Garik Hayrapetian, the Deputy Representative of United Nations Population Fund to Armenia. He said that according to the international practice, the normal number of population of that age should make up to 11%. According to G. Hayrapetian, population's aging causes serious socio-economic problems. It means that the state should undertake measures to solve social security problems of that group of population. According to him, the dependence index, ratio of employed and unemployed, is 4/1 currently in Armenia (4 employed people keep 1 unemployed one), and consequently, it will make 2.1/1 in 50 years. Therefore, according to G. Hayrapetian, the "burden of keeping" unemployed people will increase by nearly 40%, which will result in growing of taxes, decrease of able-bodied force in economy, and other problems. In G. Hayrapetian's words, the main reasons of population's aging in Armenia are emigration of nearly 0.5 million Armenians in the 90-s, decrease of birth rate, as well as increase of the average life duration. Ensuring immigration of foreign youth is among ways used for solving the aging problem in other countries. However, according to G. Hayrapetian, this variant is not so acceptable for Armenians, as Armenia is not so attractive for the foreign youth. Besides, national mentality will also hamper that. In G. Hayrapetian's opinion, ensuring immigration of Armenians having emigrated from the country in the past is among variants acceptable and efficient for Armenia. Currently some work is being done jointly with the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Issues in the direction of solving that problem. In particular, it is envisaged to work out the respective strategy. And before that, for the purpose of finding out the main reasons of the phenomenon, a national research will be beld in the country from March, 2008. G. Hayrapetian said that the results of the national research on migration held lately with Fund's assistance will also contribute to problem's solution. The results will be summed up by the end of the year.

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