Today, it is not known for certain how many people Ukraine lost in a full-scale war. Databases and registers will be terminated in 2022. However, the fact that the demographic crisis in our country is deepening is visible to the naked eye. After all, the demographic problems that have engulfed our society since the 90s have only deepened. Low birth rate, aging population, deterioration of population health, growing number of people with disabilities, high premature mortality, especially among men, forced migration in search of a better life, and in recent years, salvation from Russian aggression – all this contributed to the deterioration of the demographic situation . The full-scale war brought this problem to a new level, because it added death, maiming, deportation, constant stress, and economic uncertainty to the negative factors of the demographic profile of Ukrainian society. We do not know how many soldiers and civilians died, how many were captured, how many were forcibly taken to the territory of the aggressor country, but we understand that these numbers are calculated in the hundreds of thousands. At the same time, millions left abroad.
Tens of millions have remained in the country, but are suffering from the socio-economic upheavals caused by the war. Inflation, the high cost of living, crumbling infrastructure, and irregular supplies of basic goods and services make life difficult for those who remain in Ukraine. Instability in the labor market, difficulties with access to medical services and education, as well as mental stress due to constant shelling affect the quality of life of the population and call into question the correctness of decisions about procreation.
It’s no secret that war has led to increased rates of mental disorders such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The number of people in need of social assistance, medical rehabilitation and support has increased many times. In addition, family ties are often weakened, making it even more difficult to recover from trauma and adapt to new living conditions.
Today, on the Opendatabot.ua resource, actual data appeared, which proved that in the first half of the year, the death rate in Ukraine tripled the birth rate. This news is also on our resource.
Compared to the same period before the full-scale invasion, the birth rate has fallen by one and a half times: 87,655 children this year against 132,595 newborns in 2021.
The largest number of newborns was registered in Kyiv, where 9,695 children were born. Lviv Oblast follows with 7,923 newborns, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast has added 6,962 new residents. At the same time, the frontline regions show consistently low birth rates: only 221 newborns were registered in Kherson region, 702 in Donetsk region. The situation in Luhansk region is alarming, where not a single baby was registered for six months.
The war certainly became a catalyst for an even deeper demographic crisis in Ukraine. However, the foundations of negative demographic trends in Ukraine were laid much earlier – in the early 1990s.
If analyzed sex and age pyramid of the population of Ukraine from 1989 to 2022, one can see the seeds of uncontrolled processes that affected the demographic situation and led to significant changes in the population structure.
1989-2001 years. We all remember them as the difficult 1990s and the already calmer “zeros”. If in 1989 the pyramid had a wide base, which indicated a high birth rate, then with the transition to the independence of Ukraine, economic difficulties arose in the young state, which reduced the quality of life. This hit the birth rate, increased the death rate, and generally had a negative impact on demographics.
2001-2013 – a period of population decline.
At that time, there was a decrease in the younger population (0-14 years) and an increase in the segment of older age groups (60+ years). The negative dynamics were caused by economic instability and strong labor migration. The number of newborns decreased, and the death rate remained at a high level, which led to a negative natural increase.
2014-2022 – years of war and economic crisis.
Demographic indicators were significantly affected by the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Further reduction of the population occurred due to migration and an increase in the death rate. The number of the population of working age (20-40 years) has decreased significantly due to emigration.
The consequences of these processes are felt not only in statistics, but also in the everyday life of every Ukrainian. Economic uncertainty, mental disorders, and social instability threaten the nation’s future. The current demographic crisis in Ukraine has deep roots that go back to the early 1990s, and the war only accelerated its development, creating new challenges for the country.
The demographic crisis in Ukraine has become one of the most acute problems of recent decades. It cannot be said that the government of Ukraine is not responding to the population curve, which is inexorably falling down. He proposes a number of measures to improve the situation in the country. It is worth mentioning here the strategy of demographic development of Ukraine until 2040.
One of its key areas is the improvement of economic stability. It is about carrying out economic reforms, attracting investments, creating new jobs and developing small and medium-sized businesses. Support for entrepreneurship, simplification of conditions for starting a business, tax incentives and microcredit programs will contribute to economic growth and, accordingly, improve the quality of life.
Attention is also paid to social support of the population. The government increases child benefits, supports large families and provides affordable housing. To support youth and families, youth lending programs and provision of affordable housing for young families are being implemented. Educational programs, scholarships and grants for education will contribute to the development of the younger generation and their involvement in active life in the country.
Reducing labor migration is another important task. The government is working to create competitive working conditions, raise wages and protect workers’ rights. Special attention is paid to supporting the return of emigrants. Encouraging the return of Ukrainians from abroad, creating conditions for their integration, assistance with employment, housing and social services will contribute to the reintegration of those who return.
Psychological support is also an important aspect in overcoming the demographic crisis. The government is establishing psychological assistance centers for people affected by the war, supporting military families and developing rehabilitation programs for veterans and civilians affected by the conflict.
Infrastructure projects, such as reconstruction of war-torn regions, improvement of living conditions, provision of access to quality education, medicine and transport infrastructure, will also contribute to the stable development of the country.
Thanks to these measures, the government of Ukraine hopes to reduce the negative consequences of the demographic crisis and create conditions for stable and sustainable development of the country. However, whether it will be possible to implement at least one of these initiatives in wartime is a rhetorical question at the moment.
