Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on his country's citizens to embrace the tradition of large families, suggesting that having up to eight children could help overcome Russia's "most complex demographic challenges."
During a speech at the World Russian People's Council, Putin highlighted the historical norm of large families in Russia, where it was common to have seven to eight children or more in past generations.
According to Moscow Times, Putin emphasized the importance of reviving these traditions, stating that large families should become the norm and a way of life for all Russian people.
He acknowledged that solving demographic issues solely through financial incentives, benefits, social payments, and subsidies is not feasible. Despite the implementation of the "Demography" national project in 2018, which cost the budget 4 trillion rubles, it has not been effective in pulling the country out of its demographic slump.
Statistics from the first half of 2023 show a continued decline in birth rates in Russia, with a 3% decrease to 616.2 thousand births.
June recorded the lowest birth rate in history at 104.4 thousand, 6.7% less than the previous year. Since the annexation of Crimea, the birth rate in Russia has steadily decreased, falling by almost a third: from 1.942 million in 2014 to 1.306 million in 2022.
Projections by Rosstat for the current year indicate that the number of births will drop to 1.244 million, the lowest since the 1990s, and is expected to decline further in the coming years: 1.171 million in 2024, 1.153 million in 2025, and 1.143 million in 2026. Putin's call for a return to large families reflects a significant push to address these demographic challenges facing Russia.
