Reuters: Ukraine on the verge of demographic collapse due to falling birth rate

Ukraine is facing an unprecedented demographic crisis that threatens the country’s future. According to data published by Reuters, a sharp drop in the birth rate and a rise in the death rate have led to a situation where there are about three dead per newborn. Experts predict that the country may lose up to 4.5 million workers over the next decade, and its population continues to decline rapidly.

Reuters reports that Ukraine’s population, which was about 42 million before the all-out war, has already shrunk to less than 36 million. Predictions for 2051 are even more alarming: the population could fall to 25 million. One of the key reasons is the critical decline in the birth rate. In some Western regions, for example, the number of newborns has tripled in ten years, leading to the closure of maternity hospitals. The situation is exacerbated by the mass emigration of young people, particularly boys.

At the same time as the birth rate is falling, the country has one of the highest mortality rates in the world. According to the CIA World Factbook, life expectancy has fallen significantly, from 65.2 to 57.3 years for men and from 74.4 to 70.9 years for women. These figures reflect not only military losses, but also a general deterioration in living conditions and access to medical care.

In response to these challenges, the Ukrainian government approved a demographic strategy until 2040, aimed at curbing emigration, returning citizens from abroad and supporting the birth rate. However, according to experts, these measures may not be enough. Ella Libanova, director of the Institute of Demography of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, emphasizes that we should not expect a sharp increase in birth rate after the end of the war. She notes that women who planned to leave have already done so, and some men may leave the country after the opening of the borders, which will further exacerbate the demographic imbalance.

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 indicate that Ukrainians who left the country over the past three years are mostly reluctant to return.