Recent data reveals that Russia’s population has experienced its sharpest decline since 1999.
Vladimir Putin
Russia is facing a significant population decline, with birth rates hitting their lowest since 1999. In response to this alarming trend, President Vladimir Putin has reportedly encouraged Russians to use their lunch and coffee breaks for procreation. According to Metro.co.uk, this unconventional “sex-at-work” initiative aims to combat the country’s current fertility rate, which sits at approximately 1.5 children per woman—far below the 2.1 replacement level needed for population stability.
This move comes as Russia grapples with the aftermath of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has led to the migration of over one million younger Russians. Putin stressed that the future of Russia hinges on reversing this demographic trend. “The fate of our nation depends on how many of us there will be,” he emphasized, underscoring the importance of boosting birth rates as a matter of national security.
Health Minister Dr. Yevgeny Shestopalov echoed this sentiment, dismissing workplace busyness as an excuse for not having children. “Life moves fast, and work is no reason to delay procreation,” he stated. During a press interaction, when asked how working individuals could find time for parenthood, Shestopalov simply responded, “During break times.”
In a broader push to address the crisis, Russian women are being urged to undergo free fertility assessments to gauge their reproductive potential. Politicians like MP Tatyana Butskaya have also advocated for a cultural shift toward valuing larger families, with some even suggesting that women should start having children as early as 19 or 20. “The earlier you start, the more children a family can have,” Butskaya and others argued, encouraging women to prioritize motherhood at a younger age.
Official data from earlier this year highlights the urgency of the situation, with Russia recording its lowest birth rate since 1999 in the first half of 2024. In June alone, births fell below 100,000 for the first time, with only 599,600 children born in the first six months of the year—16,000 fewer than the same period in 2023. The government’s pro-natalist measures aim to reverse this trend, but whether these efforts will be enough remains to be seen.
