Since Russia's first invasion of Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014, the country has witnessed a dramatic population decline of over 10 million people, according to a recent report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). On October 22, 2024, UNFPA's Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Florence Bauer, highlighted the demographic crisis during a briefing in Geneva, linking the drop to war-related deaths, forced displacement, and economic hardship. With 6.7 million Ukrainian refugees currently abroad, the country faces a severe loss of human capital that could undermine future recovery efforts.
The crisis victims comprise mostly Ukrainian citizens, including those who fled from war, refugees, and citizens suffering from poverty and limited healthcare access. The cause is said to be the invasion conducted by Russia on a full scale following the initial incursion in 2014. The conflict provoked mass emigration and an extremely debilitating drop in the birth rate, which is now pegged at one child per woman, being the lowest rate across Europe. The youth and working-age adults have borne the brunt of the population loss; many are now abroad searching for safety and better living conditions.
To this end, authorities in Ukraine, with UNFPA cooperation, have launched a national demographic policy to reverse the trend. This strategy is not only premised on raising birth rates but harnesses talents and competences of people in society. It has been guided by the Swedish model, focusing on equity between genders, family-friendly working environments, and access to health, education, and caregiving. According to the statement by Florence Bauer, even when there is no peace, some proactive measures such as improving the social and economic policies can lay the foundations for demographic recovery. Still, the success of these efforts is entirely dependent on peace returning to the country.
It should be borne in mind that the war in Ukraine is going on, and the humanitarian and social effects, as well as continuing international attention, are very much alive in the year 2024. But the ongoing war and the long-term ravages from it should not be forgotten by the Ukrainian population. Without peace, it is still important to intensify the social and economic policies as part of proactivity and preconditioning for recovery demography.
To read more, visit:
- UN News
- IOM Ukraine General Population Survey
- WHO Report on Health Access in Ukraine
