Russia Day Off for Sex

Residents of Ulyanovsk, Russia were given September 12, 2007 off from work and encouraged to use the time to procreate. In what has been dubbed the "Day of Conception," the new holiday is part of Ulyanovsk Governor Sergei Morozov's plan to help solve Russia's demographic crisis. Those couples who give birth exactly nine months later, on Russia Day (June 12), will be eligible to receive money, cars, refrigerators and other prizes.

Fast Facts

1. Also known as "family contact day"
2. 2007 marked the third annual day off of its kind
3. 2006 winning couple received an SUV
4. Conservative estimates indicate that 60% of all Russian pregnancies end in abortion
5. Russian women who give birth to a second or third child are eligible for cash subsidies

Demographic Crisis

Russia is the largest country in the world and has a population of just 141.4 million citizens, making it one of the most sparsely settled nations. The country's population has steadily declined since 1991 and is on pace to dip below 100 million in 2050. During his 2007 state of the nation address, President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia's declining population was the most serious problem facing the nation.

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