Ukraine is entering a period of sharp population decline, and the situation is already taking on signs of a deep demographic crisis. Reuters reports.
Before the full-scale invasion, the country had about 42 million people. Today, the population is estimated at less than 36 million, and according to official forecasts, it could shrink to about 25 million by 2051. The war has caused massive losses: from the dead and wounded to millions of internally displaced persons and a sharp drop in the birth rate.
Life expectancy has also decreased significantly. According to the agency, the average age at which men live to see their children die has fallen from 65.2 to 57.3 in 2024. Among women, the figure has fallen from 74.4 to 70.9.
The forecasts of Ukrainian institutions also indicate a future labor shortage – approximately 4.5 million workers. This could create barriers both to economic recovery after the war and to further ensuring the state’s defense capabilities.
