Final answer:
Populations are declining in Eastern Europe due to lower birth rates, aging populations, and urban migration from rural areas. This demographic shift brings unique economic challenges and workforce concerns in developed regions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon of population decline is particularly noticeable in economically developed regions such as Eastern Europe. While global populations are expected to stabilize by 2100, Eastern Europe is already witnessing a decline due to falling birth rates, aging populations, and changes in economic structures. As people migrate from rural areas to urban centers in search of better opportunities, the labor pool in rural regions shrinks, leading to population decreases in those areas. The transition from agricultural professions to urban jobs contributes to declining family sizes and lower fertility rates. Moreover, improved healthcare extending life expectancy combined with lower birth rates contributes to an aging population.
This can create economic challenges as a smaller workforce must support a growing number of retirees, necessitating adequate social and medical services. Russia is one example of an Eastern European country with one of the most extreme demographic downward trends, highlighting the importance of population dynamics on national development and labor markets.