Foreign Affairs
Related: About this forumRussia Is in Demographic Free Fall. Putin Isn't Helping.
Russia was in demographic decline long before the war in Ukraine. Now its in free fall.
Since 2022, hundreds of thousands of Russians have died or suffered critical injuries in Ukraine. The result: According to one demographer, Russians may have had fewer children from January to March 2025 than in any three-month period over the past 200 years. As of 2023, the countrys fertility rate1.4 births per womanlies well below replacement level and amounts to a roughly 20 percent drop compared with 2015. In some regions, births fell that much in just 12 months. Last year, deaths outpaced births by more than half a million.
This crisis has led to one of the worlds most extreme natalism campaignsand one of the weirdest. President Vladimir Putin has commanded his government to stimulate Russian women to have at least three children, and to make sure they get pregnant when theyre young. To that end, the Ministry of Education has been discussing ways to create conditions for romantic relations in schools. Last month, Moscows Department of Health displayed giant pink banners around the city asking women,
If this is supposed to make them want to procreate, it doesnt seem to be workingat least not for Larisa, a 21-year-old university student who was incredulous when she saw the sign on her way to campus. Even though her parents cover the cost of her car and apartment, she told me, I have enough money to pay just for my food. Forget three babies. Indeed, the Kremlins own polling has shown that almost 40 percent of Russian women of childbearing age say they wont have kids in the next five years because of financial concerns.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-demographic-free-fall-putin-145500116.html

Lovie777
(18,230 posts)and yet, Russia is still in parts of Ukraine and still killing, maiming and destroying the country by way of lethal weapons and soldiers.
China still is controlling shithole and selling to other countries.
Aussie105
(6,982 posts)Only old men can come up with this.
And it's been said before, in recent history. With slogans to match - 'populate or perish!' style.
Stupid!
Most people want:
- a stable relationship.
- a stable economy, reliable shop prices, a reliable income that allows for housing and a decent standard of living for a family.
- a predictable and positive outlook on the future.
All that, before babies become a serious consideration.
Russia has little of that to offer future mothers.