Facts:

• Birth rate of 9 per 1000 people, death rate of 13 per 1000 people. Natural change of -4 per 1000 people
• Since Russia’s population peak of 150 million in 1991, it has been declining overall

Reasons for low natural population growth rate:

• Low birth rate – High education standards for women
  → 70% of married women aged 15-49 use contraceptives
• High death rate, especially men – Low life expectancy for men
  → 77 years for women, 66 for men
  → Alcohol, smoking, and STDs are common
  → 11 million more women than men
• Emigration – War
  → Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine that started in late February 2022, more than 300,000 Russian citizens and residents are estimated to have left Russia by mid-March 2022, at least 500,000 by the end of August 2022, and an additional 400,000 by early October, for a total of approximately 900,000. 

Problems of low natural population growth rate:

• Brain drain
  → Loss of highly skilled emigrants
  → Slows down development
• Ageing population

Solutions:

• Paternal Glory medal in 2008 – Orders of Parental Glory are conferred on parents (adoptive parents) who raised or are raising seven and more children, taking proper care of their health, physical, spiritual and moral development.
• President Vladimir Putin has encouraged women to have at least three children, saying that will help secure the future of Russians. 
• In November 2024, Russia’s parliament banned “childfree propaganda”

Last updated: Feb 2025