Russia’s Birth Rate Plunges to 200-Year Low Amidst War and Repression
Preliminary data suggests Russia experienced its lowest birth rate in over two centuries during the first quarter of 2025, with February’s figure marking a record low. This decline, reaching a 3% drop compared to the same period in 2024, is particularly sharp in several regions, highlighting the failure of government policies aimed at boosting the birth rate. The resulting natural population decline is substantial, exacerbated by a death rate that, while decreasing, is insufficient to offset the plummeting birth numbers. Rosstat projections indicate that this trend will continue, leading to a significantly smaller and older Russian population by 2046.
John Q. Hosedrinker