Demography is at its worst in Russia with only 920,000 births from January to September 2024 in a country of 143 million inhabitants, twice as many as in France. Currently there are 1.41 children per woman, far from the necessary replacement rate of 2.1.
According to INSEE, France is experiencing a record drop in the birth rate in 2023. Less 6.6% compared to 2022 with only 677,800 babies registered last year. A worrying situation, but still far from that catastrophic in Russia where only 920,000 births from January to September 2024 were recorded in a country of 143 million inhabitants. There are currently 1.41 children per woman, far from the necessary replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman.
Faced with this situation, the Russian government and Parliament are throwing all their strength into the battle to save demography. “This is a law that speaks about the future of our state, without children the country will disappear,” declared Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the State Duma, in defense of the text of the law penalizing the fact of praising life without child. Propaganda of refusal of children is the end of births,” he added. From now on, promoting life without children is punishable by a fine ranging from 4,000 to 47,000 euros.
“Many of our grandmothers, our great-grandmothers had seven or eight children”
With fewer than 6 million inhabitants since 2008, there are only 142 million Russians left. A collapse despite the efforts of the State. Federal birth pack of 6,000 euros for the first child, regional and local bonuses, and even a traditional hut offered in the far north. “The family didn’t have a winter hut, so it’s very useful to them and it’s worth almost 5,000 euros.” To encourage Russians to have children, clips promoting family life are broadcast. “Like father, like son. Our project? Demography”, we can hear in one of them.
Faced with this situation, even Vladimir Putin is worried. “Many of our grandmothers, our great-grandmothers had seven or eight children. Let’s find these traditions and develop them,” declares the head of state. The aim of this campaign to encourage Russians to procreate is to prevent forecasts predicting only 101 million Russians in 2050 from coming true. A situation that would make a country 34 times the size of France impossible to govern and defend.
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