Russia’s birth rate has reached its lowest point since 1999
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly encouraged Russians to develop intimate relationships during lunch and coffee breaks at work to tackle the country’s declining birth rate. The initiative comes at a time when Russia’s fertility rate, which currently stands at around 1.5 children per woman, is significantly lower than the 2.1 figure needed to maintain a stable population. Subway reported. In addition, well over a million, mainly younger Russians, have left the country due to the ongoing war with Ukraine
Health Minister Dr. Yevgeny Shestopalov emphasized that being too busy at work is not a valid excuse to avoid reproduction. He suggested people could take advantage of breaks to focus on growing their families, noting that “life flies by too quickly.”
When a reporter asked him how people who worked 12 to 14 hours a day would find the time to have children, he responded by suggesting they could use their break times.
Putin has previously emphasized: “The preservation of the Russian people is our highest national priority. The fate of Russia… depends on how many of us there will be. It is a matter of national interest.”
Strikingly, Russia’s birth rate has reached its lowest point since 1999, with the number of live births falling below 100,000 in June. This drastic decline has raised concerns in Moscow about a serious population decline. According to Rosstat, Russia’s government statistics agency, the country has seen a significant drop in births, with 16,000 fewer children born between January and June 2024 compared to the same period last year. Euro news.
This decline is further exacerbated by an 18% increase in population decline, with 49,000 more deaths recorded in 2024 than the previous year, likely due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The Kremlin’s efforts to boost Russia’s declining birth rate have led to a series of measures, including:
- Free fertility checks: Women in Moscow, aged 18 to 40, are encouraged to undergo free fertility assessments to assess their “reproductive potential”.
- Coercion by employers: MP Tatyana Butskaya has proposed a plan to pressure employers to encourage their female employees to have children.
- Incentives: Chelyabinsk region offers £8,500 to female students under 24 for the birth of their first child
- Restriction of Abortion: Access to abortion is blocked across the country as public figures and clerics argue that it is women’s duty to bear and raise children.
- Divorce costs: Divorce costs have been increased to discourage divorce.
Politician Anna Kuznetsova has also demanded that women start giving birth at a young age. She said: ‘You should start giving birth when you are 19 to 20 years old. Then statistically the family will be able to have three, four or more children.”
However, critics argue that these policies undermine individual autonomy, especially for women, and could have unintended consequences for Russia’s social fabric.