Russia: A Major Demographic Crisis

Source: FSSPX News

The Duma

Moscow has decided to toughen its stance on demographic decline by adopting new legal measures and promoting traditional values. The ban on promoting the child-free ideology and restrictions on abortion are aimed at reversing this decline.

Russia’s population is declining at an alarming rate. Every year, the country loses the equivalent of the inhabitants of a large city. The government has decided to intervene with measures such as banning the promotion of the child-free movement and stricter restrictions on access to abortion. But will this really be enough to change the demographic trend?

The “Child-Free” Movement

Its ideology promotes the absence of children, not for reasons of infertility but as a personal choice. Its followers claim that this choice can be as satisfying, if not more so, than parenthood. The authorities are aware that this ideology poses a threat to social and demographic stability, and they ban it from the media and other public spaces.

The year 2024 had been declared the “Year of the Family” to promote birth rates. But in terms of demographic statistics it has been the worst in more than a decade. According to United Nations data, in 2024, there were 600,000 more deaths than births, leaving the population at 144.8 million. In 1990, this figure was almost 149 million.

The situation is aggravated by the loss of thousands of young people in the so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine. In addition, economic and social uncertainty discourages many women from having children. Without a guarantee of stability, the decision to start a family is postponed indefinitely.

Abortion: A Major Problem

Historically, Russia has been one of the countries with the widest access to abortion. In 100 years, there have been 310 million abortions. However, with the demographic crisis, the authorities have decided to toughen policies around this practice. For example, there is a ban on the over-the-counter sale of abortion drugs such as misoprostol and mifepristone, which can only be purchased with a doctor's prescription.

In addition, regional initiatives aimed at limiting access to abortion in private clinics have been encouraged. In regions such as Tatarstan and Crimea, several clinics have stopped performing abortions. In some cities, regulations criminalizing incitement to abortion have also been adopted.

What’s more, the Orthodox Church has become more opposed to abortion, calling it “murder.” State television has started to broadcast anti-abortion content. President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged the seriousness of the demographic crisis and, in addition to measures to reduce the number of abortions, has called for increased support for families. 

The Russian parliament has banned the promotion of the “child-free” movement. From now on, the promotion of this lifestyle is banned in the media, social networks, advertising, and even in cinema. This decision has been interpreted as an anti-Western and anti-liberal measure, similar to other recent laws against “LGBTQ propaganda.”

Measures to Encourage Births

The government has begun to discuss economic incentive programs for families. These initiatives include childbirth allowances, extended maternity leave and tax breaks for large families. However, these programs have not yet been widely implemented and their impact is uncertain.

Demographic experts have warned that the problem is not only legislative, but also cultural. Changing perceptions of motherhood and fatherhood will take time and complementary measures. According to recent studies, the fear of economic instability is one of the main factors that push couples to delay or forgo parenthood.