摘要：The article deals with Russian population estimates since 1897 and prospects to the end of the XXI century. Concept of demographic potential is used to examine past trends and project future tendencies. Dramatic disturbances of the past century hampered population growth and brought the possibility of halving the Russian population, the possibility, which could turn into inevitably if demographic problems are not solved before the mid-XXI. At the same time the Russian population still has a momentum of quick growth under the condition of fast recovery of vital rates.
关键词：method of demographic potentials;population projections;Russia
