Officials in Russia are hoping to help kick-start a population boom in the rapidly depopulating country by declaring September 12 the "Day of Conception" and awarding prizes to those who give birth exactly nine months later.
"Ulyanovsk Gov. Sergei Morozov has decreed Sept. 12 a Day of Conception and is giving couples time off from work to procreate. Couples who give birth nine months later on Russia's national day-June 12-will receive money, cars, refrigerators and other prizes."
"It's the third year that the Volga River region, about 550 miles east of Moscow, has held the contest. Since then, the number of competitors-and the number of babies born-has been on the rise."
"Russia's population has dropped since the 1991 Soviet collapse, fed by declining birth rates, a low life expectancy, a spike in emigration, a frayed health care system and other factors. The country-the world's largest-now has just 141.4 million citizens, making it one of the most sparsely settled nations. And experts estimate the population could fall below 100 million by 2050."
FULL STORY: Russian region to host Day of Conception
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