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Since the beginning of July, the Russian Federation has stopped publishing basic demographic indicators, including data on population size, births, deaths, marriages and divorces. This was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (SZRU), pointing to the Kremlin’s attempt to conceal a large-scale demographic crisis.
“Russia is hiding demographic statistics, as they no longer correlate with propaganda slogans about a ‘great nation’,” the SZRU said.
The intelligence notes that in 2024, only 1.222 million children were born in Russia, the lowest figure since 1999. Less than 294,000 babies were born in the first quarter of 2025, a 2.4% drop compared to last year and the worst figure in two centuries.
At the same time, the natural decline in Russia’s population in 2024 reached 596,200 people, 20% more than in 2023. The main reasons are high mortality, declining birth rates, mass emigration and losses in the war against Ukraine.
The intelligence emphasises: “Russia is losing not only soldiers, but also demographic resources. The proportion of ethnic Russians, whom the Kremlin considers to be the backbone of its regime, is rapidly decreasing.”
It is estimated that up to 950,000 people have left Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion (24 February 2022). Official statistics do not take into account combat casualties, which, according to open sources, already amount to tens of thousands of soldiers.
