"According to statistics, the number of Russia's permanent residents declined by 286,600, or 0.2%, to 143.2 million in the period of January to May 1, 2005," the document said.
In comparison, in January-April 2004, the population fell by 287,400, or 0.2%.
According to the service, the decline was caused by natural reasons, although it was 27,000 higher this year.
A 10.3% increase in migration made up for the losses, the document said.
In January-April 2005, the birth rate fell in 76 out of the 89 Russian Federation members, and the death rate increased in 50.
"On the whole, the death rate exceeded the birth rate by 1.7 times (1.6 times last year), and even 2-3.1 times in 26 Federation members," the report said.
A natural increase in the population was only registered in 14 Federation members as compared with 15 in 2004.
