The longer the war lasts, the more Ukraine is depopulated. The challenge of reversing the country's declining demographic has reached such proportions that it is now considered a crucial issue for its security. Millions have sought refuge abroad or are currently living under Moscow's control in occupied areas. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians have been reported missing, killed in combat and bombings. While the country recorded approximately 41 million inhabitants before the invasion, official figures refer to around 36 million by the end of 2024, including five million in the 20% of Ukrainian territories controlled by the Russian army. These figures could be underestimated.

The war has shattered the country's development. The number of deaths is now estimated to be three times higher than the number of births, while the Ministry of Social Policy has recorded the lowest birth rate in its history, at 0.9 children per woman. Under such circumstances, the population is expected to reach 25 million by 2050 and continue to decline to 15 million by 2100, according to Olga Dukhnich, director of the department responsible for demography and migration at the Ukrainian think tank Frontier Institute.

You have 84.54% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.