Ukraine's population crisis deepens amidst ongoing conflict
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reported on Tuesday that Ukraine's population has decreased by over 10 million since the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022.
"We find that Ukraine's population has decreased by over 10 million people since the beginning of the war," stated UNFPA Regional Director Florence Bauer at a press conference in Geneva.
She added this is due to a "combination of factors" and emphasized that even before the escalation of hostilities, Ukraine faced a "serious demographic challenge."
"The country had one of the lowest fertility rates in Europe. Many people have already left the country, taking advantage of every opportunity available to them. The population was aging and declining," Bauer reminded.
She noted this trend is not uncommon in Eastern Europe, where many countries exhibit a similar pattern. "But the situation significantly worsened with the large-scale Russian assault that began in 2022," she stressed.
She emphasized the fertility rate has dropped to roughly one child per woman, which is one of the lowest rates in the world and significantly deviates from the 2.1 children per woman level needed for simple generational replacement.
Additionally, 6.7 million people have left Ukraine, and many have died as a result of the conflict, she added.
