Russia Continues to Accept a Large Number of Migrants from Armenia

The newspaper "Zhoghovurd" reports: "Russia continues to accept a large number of migrants from Armenia. The Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia has published concerning statistics regarding migration.

"Zhoghovurd" has learned that during the migration processes of 2017-2018, 61% of the members of households involved—approximately 137,700 people—were still absent as of last year and were located in different regions of Armenia, Yerevan, other settlements of the respective region, or abroad. Notably, 38%—around 86,700 people—returned from their departures, while 1% were new arrivals to the respective settlement—about 2,400 people.

It turns out that among the members of households involved in the migration processes who returned from their departures last year, 87% were absent for up to one year, while 13% were absent for one year or more. Furthermore, according to the Statistical Committee, 10.9% of the movements of household members involved in external and internal migrations during 2017-2018 were inter-republican movements within Yerevan and between regions of Armenia, 8.5% were related to Artsakh, while the remaining 80.6% were international, with 86.2% of those movements occurring with Russia.

As of last year, 6.2% of the family members who returned had originated from inter-republican movements, 3.5% from Artsakh, 71.4% from Russia, 3.4% from other CIS countries, and 8% from European countries. This means that 71.4% of the labor migrants were in Russia and returned from there.

For instance, if 4,900 migrants arrived in Russia from Armenia during January-April 2018, that number has increased more than 2.5 times to 12,800 during the same period this year. According to research results, during 2017-2018, 13.5% of members aged 15 and older who left their permanent residence for three months or more were located within the territory of Armenia, in Yerevan or other regions of Armenia, 12% in Artsakh, and 74.5% abroad, the vast majority of whom were in Russia.

Moreover, last year’s research revealed that in terms of expectations for improving living standards, members of households aged 16 and above indicated the following: nothing depends on me; the government should provide jobs and good conditions; I have no plans; I am looking for profitable work in Armenia; my living standards are acceptable to me; I don't know how to get out of this situation; I am looking for profitable work outside Armenia; I have general expectations; I am forced to leave Armenia."

For more detailed information, refer to the current issue of the newspaper.