Russia's population woes continue: Ninth year of decline despite Putin's pleas
According to Rosstat data, Russia has experienced a decline in natural increase for the ninth consecutive year. Despite initiatives like the nearly trillion-dollar "Demography" state program and calls from the Russian leader for families to "give birth to 8 children, as in the times of ancient Rus'," these measures have not yielded the desired results.
5:57 AM EDT, April 20, 2024
Rosstat, or the Federal State Statistics Service, has released Russia's latest demographic figures, which have disappointed the authorities.
The Kremlin has been adamant about its efforts to boost the birth rate. With the ambitious "Demography" state program and public appeals by Vladimir Putin for citizens to embrace the tradition of large families by having up to 8 children—mirroring ancient Rus practices—the government hoped to address its severe demographic challenges. Nonetheless, such initiatives appear to have fallen short of expectations.
For January and February 2024, Russia reported a loss of approximately 143,000 people, according to Rosstat. Although there was a slight increase in the number of births—1 percent to about 221,000 children—during this period, the number of deaths surged by 10 percent to 364,000, exacerbating the issue.
Russia faces continued population decline, marking the ninth year of decreasing natural increase
Compared to the previous year, the rate of natural decrease rose by 27 percent, equating to an average loss of 2,300 people per day.
Official statistics have documented a decline in natural increase for nine consecutive years. Rosstat's long-term projections suggest this trend will persist in the foreseeable future.
Source: "Moscow Times"
