Russia’s Fertility Rate Falls for 10th Straight Year, Reaching New Low

Russia’s birth rate has continued its decline for the tenth consecutive year, with the country’s total fertility rate (TFR) dropping to 1.374 children per woman by the end of 2025, according to The Moscow Times, citing data from Russia’s state statistics agency, Rosstat, on January 23.

This marks a slight decrease from 1.4 in 2024 and is the lowest level since 2006, when the TFR was 1.305. The most significant decline occurred in 2015 when the TFR peaked at 1.762, but since then, it has fallen by 22%, a sharp drop unseen since the 1990s.

Despite calls from Russian leader Vladimir Putin to increase birth rates, including promoting larger families, the TFR for third and subsequent children also decreased. In December 2025, this rate fell to 0.362 from 0.376 in 2024, dipping below levels of 0.364 in 2021, before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, The Moscow Times wrote.

In December 2025, Putin also urged Russians to follow what he described as “Caucasus traditions” of teen marriage in an effort to boost the country’s collapsing birth rate.

In addition, the number of births in Russia has significantly dropped. In 2024, 1.222 million babies were born, the lowest number since 1999. The first quarter of 2025 saw just 288,000 births, setting a new record for the lowest number of births since the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The Russian government has set ambitious goals to raise the TFR to 1.6 by 2030 and 1.8 by 2036, aiming to reverse the demographic decline. These goals are part of Russia’s “family-centric” demographic strategy, which includes policies to strengthen the institution of family, promote traditional values, and incentivize large families, according to The Moscow Times.

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Despite these efforts, a study by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) found that in 2025, 18% of families were not planning to have children, a threefold increase over the last 20 years.

Additionally, Russia continues to face a significant natural population decline, with more than 3 million people lost between 2018 and 2024 due to a higher death rate than birth rate. In 2024, the natural population decline accelerated by 20%, reaching 596,000 people.

Previously, it was reported that the Russian Orthodox Church held a newly approved nationwide prayer service urging women not to have abortions.

The service is described in church materials as an “admonition for those intending to destroy an infant in the womb,” and came as Russian authorities and the Church intensify efforts to address demographic decline.

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