One argument held by some Russians is that the decreasing trend in population is not a cause for concern because westernized, developed countries like Germany and Italy are also experiencing a decrease in population. As this chart shows, however, the Russian birth rate is decreasing and the death rate is increasing at much steeper rates than those in Germany and Italy. The gap between the two values is also much more considerable for the Russian population, which indicates non-natural causes.

Also, this chart is interesting because it shows the relation between the Russian population and the government. The values on the chart mirror the changes in the Russian government; for example, after Gorbachev's new leadership took over in 1985 the birth and death rates began their current trends, which is clearly visible beginning in about 1987.

It is also interesting to note that the two lines cross in about 1991, which marked the formal end of Communism in Russia and was not long after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. These facts demonstrate the importance that governmental stability has on a population, and the problems that stem from Russia's lack of a stable, secure government.