The birth rate in Russia has fallen to 19th-century levels
The demographic crisis in the Russian Federation has reached a critical point, as birth rates have fallen to their lowest level in the past 200 years.
Despite active promotion of “traditional values” and attempts to restrict abortions, the aggressor nation continues to plunge rapidly into a deep demographic crisis.
According to estimates by independent demographers, in the first quarter of 2026, the number of newborns in the Russian Federation fell by another 6% compared to the same period last year.
During the first three months, only 272,000 babies were born, marking an all-time low since the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.
It is worth noting that the trend toward population decline has been observed in Russia for the 11th consecutive year.
Compared to pre-war 2021, the number of births fell by 12.5%, and compared to the peak year of 2014, the decline reached a catastrophic 38%.
The Russian authorities are attempting to conceal the true state of affairs from the public and the international community.
Starting in the spring of 2025, official statistics on birth rates, mortality rates, and the total population of the Russian Federation were classified.
The latest available data for 2024 showed a drop to 1.222 million children, which had previously been considered the critical minimum since the 1999 default.
However, the reality turned out to be even worse: according to expert estimates, in 2025 this figure dropped by another 4%—to 1.178 million newborns.
Experts emphasize the ineffectiveness of Vladimir Putin’s calls to have as many children as possible and the imposition of large families.
The total fertility rate, which reflects the average number of children per woman, currently stands at about 1.418, which is 20% lower than the figures from a decade ago.
The situation is exacerbated by the general socio-economic uncertainty among the population and the consequences of a prolonged aggressive war.
No government initiatives or repressive measures regarding reproductive rights can stop society’s natural reaction to the degradation of state institutions.
Demographer Alexei Raksha, commenting on the current situation, noted: “In the first quarter of 2025, the number of births reached its lowest level since the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.”
In 2026, this symbolic “low point” was finally breached, effectively casting Russia back into the era of pre-industrial development.
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