Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko is urging Russians to rethink their views on early parenthood, suggesting it should become the norm to combat the country’s deepening demographic crisis.
Matviyenko, in an interview, stated that a successful person should be defined by having a “good, close-knit, large and strong family.” She believes having children early should be fashionable, not delayed until late twenties.
Russia is currently grappling with a declining birth rate and natural population decrease. In 2024, only 1.22 million people were born, a figure close to the record low of 1.21 million in 1999. More data can be found on Demscope.ru.
Despite various government measures, including financial support for child-rearing and abortion restrictions, the demographic decline shows no signs of reversal. This trend has continued even with costly programs. See more here: The Moscow Times.
Since July, Matviyenko has been overseeing a “demographic special forces unit.” This group of officials is tasked with developing initiatives to address the falling birth rates. More on this unit: The Moscow Times.
Matviyenko acknowledged the limits of financial incentives alone. She emphasizes a holistic approach focusing on cultivating traditional values and moral guidelines to encourage larger families. Without this, she believes, efforts will not succeed.
In 2024, Russia’s natural population decline—deaths minus births—totaled 596,200 people. This highlights the severity of the crisis, pushing officials to seek alternative solutions beyond financial aid.
President Vladimir Putin previously called supporting families and stimulating birth rates the most crucial national projects, emphasizing that “fatherhood and motherhood are happiness, and happiness should not be postponed.”
The total fertility rate in Russia stands around 1.41, below the replacement level needed to sustain the population. This means each new generation is smaller than the last.
While the national birth rate is falling, some regions like Chechnya and Tuva boast higher rates. However, Tuva’s higher birth rate is also accompanied by a significant number of underage mothers.
The challenges faced by Russia in encouraging early parenthood and boosting birth rates reflect a complex global issue, with many nations grappling with their own demographic shifts and societal changes.