During his annual live question-and-answer session on December 19, 2023, President Vladimir Putin emphasized the urgent issue of Russia's declining birth rate, which has now dropped to 1.41%. While acknowledging this figure as concerning, he pointed out, "We have a birth rate of 1.4%, it is low, but in other European countries it is even lower. To achieve reproduction, we need a birth rate of 2.1%." This necessity for change echoes across many parts of Europe, where countries grapple with similar demographic challenges.
Putin’s remarks shed light on the central problem of Russia's demographic situation, which also highlights the drastic 30% reduction in the number of women of childbearing age. “Girls are needed, girls,” Putin stated, reiteratively underscoring the call for actions to improve the birth rate.
Historical data reveals the population replacement level necessary for sustaining demographic health needs to be at least 2.1%, and for growth, the figure rises to around 2.3%. The significance of these statistics cannot be understated; they reveal the stagnation not just of Russia but also reflect trends seen globally. Several other countries such as Finland, Norway, and Japan are facing similarly low ratings.
Putin stated, "Maternal capital is our unique invention. This does not exist anywhere else in the world. We are constantly increasing it, maintaining family mortgages, but it is not enough." He recognized the existing socio-economic infrastructure supporting families, such as the maternity capital program, which offers financial assistance to families upon the birth of children, and the family mortgage initiative, which allows families to secure favorable loan conditions. These measures are part of the broader strategy of the government to combat declining birth rates.
Despite these initiatives, the president candidly admitted, "Without population growth, the future of the country is at risk," signaling the government’s acknowledgment of the gravity of the situation. He urged regional leaders to prioritize demographic growth, stating they should begin and end their workdays focusing on population matters to enable effective policy implementations across various regions.
One of the most comprehensive regional plans is seen within the Sakhalin area, where initiatives have been established to incentivize families to have more children. Families receive substantial quarterly and monthly support, with additional one-time payments for new births. For example, first-time parents receive approximately 150,000 rubles, which increases to 250,000 for subsequent children. These measures have proven effective, enhancing the social safety net for growing families.
The Russian government has allocated 75 billion rubles to support regions where birth rates fall below the 1.41% threshold, ensuring targeted financial resources are applied where they are most critically needed. The collaborative approach, engaging both the federal and regional levels, seeks to cultivate supportive environments for families, reinforcing Putin's call for engagement at local governance levels.
While records indicate factors such as the economic stability playing pivotal roles, it is evidently the societal norms concerning family structure and fertility which need to shift significantly. Putin reflected on history, stating, "A sharp decline was seen during the Great Patriotic War and after the collapse of the Soviet Union. When smaller generations reach reproductive ages, they reproduce fewer offspring, leading to the current demographic dip. This cyclical trend is something we not only see here but around the world."
Without doubt, the challenges of reinforcing family growth and ensuring demographic replenishment are multi-faceted. The president has left no stone unturned, pointing to the successes and shortcomings of existing measures but affirming the need for innovative policy solutions and sustained public support to counter this demographic crisis. With initiatives well underway, Putin underlines the broader challenge of invigorated family planning policies coupled with social security systems effective for the contemporary Russian populace. Fostering family growth remains not merely imperative but central to the nation’s sustainability.
