[GarySpFc]

Firstly, Russian men do not live to 56, which is an exaggeration on Steyn's part.
Maybe, but do you have any references to refute him?

The CIA World Fact Book for Russia lists the following"

total population: 67.1 years
male: 60.55 years
female: 74.04 years (2005 est.)


Regarding the abortion issue I cannot at this time provide the facts. I was involved in the pro-life movement for many years as an officer of a large ogranization, and so this has been a special interest of mine. I do know 12 to 14 abortions per woman was common not too long ago. However, I have chatted with Russian doctors and my Russian wife is a child psychologist, and they say there has been a dramatic change in the number of births.

[TChad]

Info from the link below supports Steyn. The CIA World Fact Book data may just be out of date.

http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/ecohost/projects/mortality-russia.htm

From the linked site:

Profile of Mortality Crisis in Russia

The recent increase in mortality is real and not due to problems in data collection.

Life expectancy at birth has fallen between 1990 and 1995 by 6.3 years for men (63.8 to 57.5) and by 3.4 years for women (74.4 to 71.0).

The increase in mortality began in the late 1980's and rose sharply in 1992. Mortality rates have increased most steeply among men and women of working age. The biggest increase has been among those in their early 40s.

Mortality has increased in all categories but the most marked increases are in dealths from fatal events (eg. accidents, injuries, suicides, posonings) and in deaths from cardiovascular disease.

Alcohol consumption played a much larger role in the mortality crisis than had been previously suspected.

The deterioration of the health care system could not account for the sharp decrease in life expectancy.

Diet and smoking play a crucial part in long-term mortality trends but could not account for recent changes.