BUCHAREST, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Romania's population showed a significant fall in the number of births in February, which was down 13,016 from 15,096 in the same month of 2016, according to data released Monday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Overall, the Romania's population declined in February by 8,308 people with respect to the natural movement of the population, compared to the same month of 2016.
The official data showed an alarming trend as the natural growth of the population was negative both in February 2017 (minus 9,693 persons), as well as in February 2016 (minus 8,308 persons).
In some respects, the decline of the population may be explained by the exodus of Romanian workers to western Europe, involving mainly young and adult population.
According to an UN report, over 3.4 million Romanian citizens are living abroad, but analysts suggested that the number could be higher. But there is positive touch in this, as Romanian workers sent back 3.15 billion euros (3.34 billion U.S. dollars) in remittances in 2016, an 13.2 percent increase from 2015, helping the country's current account balance.
The exit of workers has raised particular concerns for the future of the pension bill, which turned negative, with a need of 20 billion lei (4.7 billion U.S. dollars) transfer from the general budget in order to pay the pensions, a sum which consumes around 2.3 percent of GDP.
According to the Labor Ministry data, around 5 million employees pay taxes and most of the rest are pensioners, children, subsistence farmers or people working illegally. The immediate effect is a high level of taxation on work, warned analysts.
The Romanian companies pay to the state 76 euros for every 100 euros given to the employee, said Ciprian Dascalu Chief Economist at ING Bank Romania, quoting a Molinari Institute report.
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