The demographic crisis in Russia is deepening, according to intelligence reports
The demographic crisis in Russia, which began back in the 1990s, continues to worsen. The country is rapidly losing its young and working-age population, while the proportion of older people is steadily increasing.
One of the most telling manifestations of the crisis is the dramatic shift in the age structure of Russia’s population.
In the late 1980s, the number of children under the age of five and people over 65 was roughly the same—about 14.5 million in each group.
Over the following decades, the situation changed radically. The number of children under the age of five more than halved—to 6.5 million—while the number of people over the age of 65 rose to 23.7 million.
As a result, the gap between the younger and older generations has become critical.
The SZRU cites the chronically low birth rate as the main cause of this negative trend, as it remains significantly below the rate necessary for simple population replacement.
In Russia, pro-government experts periodically make statements about the alleged “relative youth” of the Russian population compared to Japan or European Union countries.
However, according to Ukrainian intelligence assessments, the actual demographic picture suggests the opposite.
Russia is gradually losing its working-age population, while the burden on the social welfare system is growing. The state is forced to provide pensions and social services to an ever-increasing number of elderly people.
The problem is also long-term in nature. A decline in the number of children today means fewer potential workers and parents in the future.
Given current trends, Russia could face a severe shortage of young professionals within just one or two decades.
The generation expected to enter the labor market in the coming years is significantly smaller than previous ones. At the same time, the number of older people continues to rise.
As a result, Russia is facing not only an aging population but also a loss of its ability to fully replenish its own human resources.
The fewer children born now, the fewer young people there will be in 15–20 years, which will directly affect the labor market and the country’s economy.
According to the State Demographic Service’s assessment, Russia has effectively been ahead of the global demographic turning point by nearly 30 years.
While population aging is gradually becoming a problem for many countries around the world, Russia has long been in a state of deep demographic crisis.
Against the backdrop of economic and social problems, this creates additional long-term risks for the country. The shrinking younger generation, low birth rates, and an increasing proportion of older people are exacerbating the process of depopulation.
As a result, it will become increasingly difficult for Russia to maintain its population size and provide the economy with the necessary human resources.
This was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
As a reminder, Russia is imposing widespread restrictions on aircraft refueling due to the fuel crisis. Such measures are already in effect at 26 airports—from Kaliningrad to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
