Surge in syphilis cases in Russia linked to rising condom prices
Russia is seeing a sharp increase in syphilis cases: from 15,300 cases in 2020 to 25,100 by 2024. The group most affected is men around 40 years old, whose infections more than doubled, rising from 4,700 to 9,700 during this period.
According to Russian media citing Rospotrebnadzor, official statistics may underestimate the real scale due to flaws in the registration system and the widespread practice of self-treatment among the population.
Experts identify key drivers of the outbreak as a decline in contraceptive use caused by the steep rise in condom pricesand low-quality medical care, which forces patients to treat themselves. At the same time, the Scientific Centre of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology at the Russian Ministry of Health has denied claims of a drop in cases in 2025, emphasising stricter requirements for reporting new infections.
British intelligence notes that Russia’s demographic crisis is worsening due to the full-scale war in Ukraine, mass emigration, and significant combat losses. Efforts by the Kremlin to boost birth rates are unlikely to halt population decline in the near term.
After three years of unexpected economic growth, Russia is now facing a sudden slowdown — war spending, inflation, and falling oil prices are putting pressure on an economy that until recently appeared resilient to sanctions.
