Researchers noted that there is an increase in the number of Armenians, Tajiks, and Kyrgyz in the capital, while the number of representatives of the Slavic ethnic group is gradually decreasing.
The project to create a genetic database for million-plus cities, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Novosibirsk, was implemented as part of the "DNA Identification" program. This was reported by senior researcher of the population genetics laboratory, Alesya Gracheva.
Experts also noted that there are currently 16 million-plus cities in Russia, where about one-third of the urban population of the country and a quarter of the entire population of Russia reside.
According to Alesya Gracheva, these cities are experiencing a significant influx of migrants, which leads to changes in the gene pool of the indigenous population, an increase in ethnic diversity, as well as a rise in interethnic marriages and significant differences between generations.
Migration affects various aspects of societal life. Newcomers not only bring their traditions, customs, and linguistic features but also influence the genetic makeup of the population. Scientists note that it is migrants who contribute to population growth in large cities, replacing natural growth and renewing the labor resources.
Furthermore, scientists emphasize that the increase in migration may also affect the spread of hereditary and infectious diseases, including those of social significance.
“We have created a map of birth rates among various ethnic groups. Uzbeks, Azerbaijanis, and Armenians lead in this regard. These differences in birth rates will influence the quantitative and confessional composition of the population of Russia in the future,” added Alesya Gracheva.
