Researchers raise alarm over Russian demographics - media

RT
Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:52 UTC

© Sputnik / Lesya Polyakova

FILE PHOTO: A newborn in the ward of a maternity hospital in Voronezh, Russia.

The low birth rate is endangering the country's economic development, experts have warned

A record-low birth rate has become the most significant constraint on Russia's long-term development, national daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported on Friday, citing a new study.

Last year, the rate was at its lowest level since the start of the century, official statistics showed. According to research conducted by macroeconomic analysis center CMASF, both the shrinking population and rising pressure on increasingly scarce workers now pose a serious challenge for Russia's economy.

In 2023, just over 1.2 million babies were born in Russia, the lowest figure since 1999. The researchers said the decline was "inevitable" as large numbers of men are fighting in the Ukraine conflict, or have left Russia. Birth rates have been steadily declining since a peak in 2014, the researchers noted. The national statistics bureau, Rosstat, previously predicted a continued decline in the birth rate through 2027.

If the trend continues, by 2035 Russia's population of 146 million will shrink by 4%, and by 2050 - by 6%, the new report says. A decline in the population leads to various problems for the economy as a whole, as well as for certain sectors, it adds.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has designated 2024 the 'Year of the Family' in Russia and, according to the Kremlin, the issue is of critical importance for the nation.

In his address to the Federal Assembly in February, President Putin admitted that Russia, like many other countries, is faced with a declining birth rate. He suggested that all levels of government, civil society, and religions should work together to make large families the social norm, a cornerstone of social life, and a state strategy guideline.

Comment:
The message about the need for more children has gone out before, below is from the same source an article about the statements of Dmitry Peskov and one about about those from Vladimir Putin.

Some of the content is next to identical, and while that can appear redundant, it does express the emphasis given to the issue. The Western elites wish to beat Russia into submission, fragment the country and do with it as they see fit, the same way they have treated so many other parts of the world. The efforts during WWII, the engineering of the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the sponsored conflict with Russia in Ukraine have worked in their favour. The Russian leadership have observed the danger coming to the country from this approach and try to prevent the effects:

26 Mar, 2024 03:28
Demographics is Russia's 'Achilles heel' - Kremlin

Improving the demographic situation and achieving sustainable growth in birth rates is a matter of life and death for Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with national media published on Tuesday.

President Vladimir Putin has designated 2024 the 'Year of the Family' in Russia, and according to his spokesman, the issue is of critical importance for the country.

"Demographics is probably our Achilles heel, our biggest problem. It cannot be resolved overnight. And so we desperately need to continue to take all possible measures that are aimed at correcting the demographic situation," Peskov told the Argumenti i Fakty newspaper.

He added that Russia will continue to focus on improving the quality of family life by extending the maternity capital program and offering more financial benefits to single mothers and families with multiple children.

"At the same time, it is possible and necessary to promote large families," said Peskov, himself a father of six. "Having many children should become fashionable. That's why traditional values are so important to us... it is a matter of life and death for our country with its vast territory."

"There should be more of us! We have only 7 million people living beyond the Urals. We must have children, we must increase human mobility and live our lives in different cities, which should be equally comfortable," he added.

In his address to the Federal Assembly last month, President Putin admitted that Russia, like many other countries, is faced with a decline in birth rates. He suggested that all levels of government, civil society, and religion should work together to make large families the social norm, a cornerstone of social life, and a guideline of state strategy.

Putin has raised the issue of family sizes before, pointing to the lingering consequences of the 1990s demographic collapse, comparable in severity to that of the Second World War. While the number of abortions in Russia has declined significantly since 2000, the number of births in 2023 was just over 1.2 million, the lowest since 1999. The national statistics bureau, Rosstat, has predicted a continued decline in the birth rate through 2027.

15 Feb, 2024 18:23
Putin names what Russia needs to survive

The president has once again urged citizens to have more children

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday urged Russians to start families early and have at least two children, preferably more.

His comments came during a meeting with the workers of Uralvagonzavod, a major Russian weapons and military equipment manufacturer located in Nizhny Tagil, in the Urals.

"Supporting young families is our absolute priority if we want to preserve our ethnic groups inhabiting Russia. And for this, each family must have at least two children. Three, if we want to grow and expand," Putin said, answering a question on whether the state Young Family program will continue.

The president added that funding for the program has been secured through 2025. Further measures to support families are in the works and may be announced during his upcoming annual address to lawmakers.

Putin has designated 2024 'Year of the Family' in Russia. The president has repeatedly pointed to the lingering consequences of the 1990s demographic collapse, comparable in severity to that of the Second World War.

He has raised the family-size issue before. Speaking in Kaliningrad last month, he explained that having children early on was the way to go. Couples who wait until 30 or later end up having no time or energy for more than one child, he said at the time, which is why the government has focused on helping young families. While the number of abortions in Russia has declined significantly since 2000, the number of births in 2023 was only 1.213 million, the lowest since 1999. The national statistics bureau, Rosstat, has predicted a continued decline in the birth rate through 2027.

See also: Russia protects family values and children - Tara Reade