According to the 1995 national population census (the first population and housing census after the independence), the population of Turkmenistan was 4.52 million, of which 55 percent were living in rural areas. Ethnic Turkmen make up 81 percent and sex ratio of 1030 women for every 1000 men has remained stable over the last 15 years. In 1995, about 48 percent of all women were in the reproductive ages of 15-49. Between 1991-97, the population increased by about 24 percent in total, 21 percent in urban areas and 26 percent in rural areas. The age structure is typical of a high fertility country, with about 40 percent 14 years and below; about 6 percent 60 years and above; and the remaining 54 percent in the age group 15-59. Though age structure is young, proportion of women in reproductive age group is high and large families are desired traditionally, the birth rate has been coming down significantly in recent years.