The United Nations has reported a significant population decline in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, with a decrease of about 10 million people, or a quarter of the population. This decline results from a combination of refugees fleeing the country, a drastic drop in birth rates—now around one child per woman, which is among the lowest in the world—and war casualties. Before the invasion, Ukraine’s population was approximately 40 million, but it is now estimated to be just above 30 million, leading to depopulated regions with mostly elderly residents as younger couples struggle to start families.

Russia also faces demographic challenges, recording its lowest birth rate since 1999 in early 2023, which the government has deemed “catastrophic.” The war has adversely affected the populations of both countries. Approximately 6.7 million Ukrainians are currently living abroad, primarily in Europe, due to the refugee crisis. While estimates of war-related fatalities vary, officials indicate tens of thousands of deaths have occurred. A comprehensive evaluation of the conflict’s impact on Ukraine’s population will only be possible after the war concludes and a full census is performed.

Lesen Sie mehr unter Reuters