Ukraine's birth rate falls to historic low due to war

Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska has said that the birth rate in the country has dropped critically to a historic low. Against the background of a full-scale war, the birth rate has fallen to 0.8-0.9 children per woman, which has become one of the deepest demographic crises in the state’s history. In response to these challenges, Ukraine is implementing comprehensive social projects aimed at supporting families and protecting children.

Speaking at the international summit “GROWING EUROPE 2025” in Vilnius, Olena Zelenska emphasized that war is a key factor affecting the demographic situation. According to Ukrinform portal, the First Lady noted that for comparison, the average figure in the European Union is 1.5 children per woman, which demonstrates the depth of the Ukrainian crisis.

“The feeling of security influences the decision to give a new life more than anything else,” Zelenskaya noted. The constant psychological stress caused by military actions not only reduces the desire to have children, but also leads to an increase in the number of premature births. The First Lady recalled that at the beginning of the war Ukraine faced an urgent need for mass import of incubators for premature babies.

We shall remind you that earlier we reported that after the end of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Ukraine will have to face a number of serious social challenges, one of which is a demographic crisis. Statistics show that Ukrainians who left the country over the past three years are mostly reluctant to return.