Number of orphans in Russia decreases to 85,300

Over 85,000 children in Russia are orphans. According to the Russian Education and Science Ministry, their number decreased by one-fifth in the past year and the tendency continues.

"According to the statistics, 85,300 children are now registered in the state database of children left without parental care, which is almost 20 percent less than it was in late 2013," the Education and Science Ministry press service quoted Deputy Education and Science Minister Veniamin Kaganov as saying.

Kaganov added that the number of orphans is expected to decrease "by another 18 percent" this year "thanks to the development of various forms of care and other measures."

"We now see the outcome of these policies: the number of children who are adopted and placed in foster families increases every year," Kaganov said, adding that the percentage of orphans adopted and put in foster families increased by 2-3 percent annually over the past four years.

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