Kathrine Frich
The birth rate is the lowest since 1999.
The birth rate is the lowest since 1999.
Russia Faces “Population Wipeout” as Birth Rate Plummets
Russia’s population crisis is accelerating, with new figures revealing a dramatic drop in the number of births and a shrinking pool of women able to have children.
Experts warn the country could be heading toward demographic collapse.
Birth Rate Hits 25-Year Low, and It’s Still Falling
Only 1.22 million babies were born in Russia last year, the lowest figure since 1999.
By 2027, that number is expected to shrink even further to just 1.14 million births, according to state statistics agency Rosstat.
Millions of Women Vanishing from Russia’s Fertile Age Group
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova confirmed a major demographic warning:
Russia’s number of childbearing-age women is projected to fall from 34 million to 27 million by 2046.
“We live on a decreasing trajectory,” she admitted.
Abortions Down, But Not Enough to Stop the Slide
Golikova noted that abortion refusals are on the rise, with nearly 25% of women now choosing to carry pregnancies to term.
Still, she conceded that this figure is “not enough” to offset the country’s population decline.
Natural Population Drop Tops 3 Million Since 2016
Between 2016 and 2024, Russia’s population shrank by more than three million people.
The causes: low birth rates, high mortality, a grueling war in Ukraine—and long-standing issues with alcohol and drug addiction.
“Russia Is Dying,” Says Former British Military Commander
Colonel Tim Collins, a retired British Army officer, called Russia’s birth rate collapse an existential threat.
Speaking on the UK Defence Review podcast, he bluntly declared: “Russia is dying.”
Kremlin Accused of Hiding the Numbers
In a controversial move, Rosstat has stopped publishing monthly data on births and deaths, previously available to the public.
It also no longer shares regional data, fuelling suspicions that Moscow is covering up the scale of the crisis.
Demographer: “Suppression Is Proof of Policy Failure”
Alexei Raksha, a Russian demographer, slammed the data blackout.
“The suppression of regional statistics is a clear sign of failed demographic policy,” he said.
Critics see it as a desperate bid to control the narrative.
War Is Worsening the Crisis
The war in Ukraine has drained Russia of tens of thousands of young men and created a climate of uncertainty.
Experts believe this conflict is deepening the fertility collapse by deterring family planning and fuelling instability.
Economic Woes Add to the Decline
Alongside demographic issues, Russia is battling economic chaos. Oil revenues are falling, inflation is surging, and food prices, like pork and potatoes are spiking.
Together, these pressures are creating an environment in which fewer families feel secure enough to have children.
