In a troubling trend for Russia, official data revealed that the country recorded its lowest birth rate since 1999 during the first six months of this year. According to statistics released on Monday, births in June fell below 100,000 for the first time, marking a significant decline.
Declining Births and Rising Mortality
The new data highlights a concerning intersection of declining birth rates and increasing mortality rates. Between January and June 2024, Russia saw 599,600 births, a decrease of 16,000 compared to the same period in 2023. This drop is the lowest number of births recorded since 1999. The monthly figure for June showed a 6% decrease, with only 98,600 births, a historical low.
The situation has worsened with a significant rise in deaths, totaling 325,100 in the first half of the year—an increase of 49,000 compared to the previous year. Although the overall population decline has been somewhat mitigated by a 20.1% rise in migrant numbers, the demographic challenges persist.
Government Response and Concerns
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has called the low birth rates “catastrophic for the future of the nation,” reflecting the Kremlin’s alarm over the issue. Nina Ostanina, head of the Committee for the Protection of Families at the Duma, emphasized the need for a “special demographic operation” to address the problem. Ostanina likened the situation to Russia’s military approach in Ukraine, suggesting a similar strategic effort is required to improve the birth rate.
As Russia continues its prolonged conflict in Ukraine, these demographic challenges pose additional concerns for the Kremlin, which faces a shrinking population amidst ongoing military engagements.