Russian Women Without Child Wish Should See Psychologist - Russia's birth rate crashes to 200-year low amid war and economic strain

Russia's birth rate has hit its lowest point in over 200 years, with the fertility rate falling to around 1.4 children per woman. The decline has accelerated since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022, prompting government intervention to reverse the trend.

Before the conflict, Russia's fertility rate stood at 1.5 children per woman in 2021. By 2023, it had dropped to 1.41, with projections suggesting a further decline to between 1.2 and 1.3 by 2025. This pattern aligns with other post-Soviet nations, including Ukraine (1.2 in 2023), Belarus (1.38 in 2023), and Bulgaria (1.81 in 2023), all of which remain below the replacement level of 2.1. Economic strain, an ageing population, and war-related emigration and deaths have driven the downward trend.

In response, the Russian Health Ministry has introduced new measures. Doctors will now be required to question women about their childbearing intentions during routine medical check-ups. Those who express no desire to have children may be referred to psychologists for counselling. The policy reflects growing concern over demographic decline, which officials attribute partly to shifting social attitudes and financial instability. Similar trends have been observed in culturally linked countries like Greece, where the fertility rate fell to 1.4 in 2022.

The new guidelines aim to address Russia's shrinking population by encouraging higher birth rates through psychological intervention. With the fertility rate already at historic lows, the government's approach signals a direct effort to influence family planning decisions. The long-term impact of these measures remains to be seen.