Russia's Demographic Crisis Spurs Controversial Policies Targeting Women and Men

Russia is experiencing a severe demographic crisis due to a shrinking population, accelerated by the war in Ukraine, high mortality rates, and low birth rates, with deaths significantly outpacing births, according to multiple reports. The birth rate in Russia is 1.4 children per woman, the lowest figure in 200 years, and the problem has worsened amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, with high casualty rates and men fleeing the country to avoid conscription, as reported by research sources. For decades, Russia has been facing a plunging birth rate and population decline, an issue that has been one of President Vladimir Putin's main concerns over his 25-year rule, and there are estimates that Russia's population will fall to about 132 million in the next two decades, based on research. The fact that hundreds of thousands of young men have been sent to war in Ukraine in recent years has further exacerbated the demographic challenge, according to multiple reports.

Putin himself has repeatedly called for larger families, framing childbirth as both a patriotic duty and a cultural priority, multiple reports indicate. He has warned that Russia may face 'veritable extinction' if birth rates do not increase, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. This framing positions population growth as a national security issue, with the Kremlin pushing for policies to reverse the decline.

In a controversial move, women who do not want children should be sent to a psychologist to 'promote a positive attitude towards motherhood', according to official guidelines. It's been claimed that women who say they do not want children could be referred to psychologists for 'soft coercion', multiple reports indicate. In February, the health department approved new guidelines recommending healthcare staff to send women who do not want children to a psychologist, and the recommendations were approved in February but picked up by state media this week, according to research. The new guidelines from the health ministry will see reproductive health checks where doctors ask women how many children they would like to have, research shows.

Human rights advocates have raised alarms about these policies. Holly Cartner, deputy program director at Human Rights Watch, stated that Russian authorities are jeopardising women's rights, health, and even lives, as part of their harmful 'traditional values' crusade and effort to boost population growth. She added that although abortions in Russia are not banned outright, accessing this essential health service is becoming increasingly difficult. These criticisms highlight concerns over coercive measures and restricted reproductive freedoms.

Financial incentives have also been introduced in several Russian regions, with local authorities offering payments of around 100,000 rubles (roughly £850–£1,000) to students and young mothers, including those still in education, to encourage childbirth, multiple reports indicate. Officials say the aim of financial incentives is to support women in difficult circumstances and boost birth rates. However, critics argue such schemes risk encouraging early motherhood at the expense of education and long-term opportunities.

Moscow is using other measures to tackle low birth rates, such as tightening abortion rules and passing bills to make 'child-free propaganda' illegal, according to research. These efforts aim to create a social environment more conducive to larger families, though their implementation and impact remain unclear.

Some campaigners have drawn comparisons to The Handmaid's Tale as Moscow ramps up efforts to reverse a demographic crisis, warning of a chilling, state-controlled approach to reproduction. Russia's plunging birth rate has triggered a wave of controversial policies, with critics warning Vladimir Putin is steering the country towards such an approach, multiple reports indicate.

Policies are not limited to women; Russian men who visit saunas could be sent for sperm testing under new government plans, according to reports. The proposal for sperm testing is due to concerns that the heat from saunas may be damaging sperm health, multiple reports indicate. As part of the additional checks, men will be asked how often they use steam baths, and those who visit regularly could be sent for additional checks, including reproductive screening that would involve spermograms, and officials have claimed that long exposure to high temperatures can lower sperm count and reduce mobility. Earlier reforms introduced in 2024 expanded reproductive health checks under the state insurance system for men aged 18 to 49, multiple reports show.

Low birth rates aren't a problem specific to Russia; population crises are a problem heard around the world, from America to China and Japan, research indicates. Women need on average to give birth to 2.1 children to keep the population at a stable level, according to multiple reports. At the start of 2025, the Trump administration passed policies aimed at boosting birth rates, including an executive order expanding access to IVF and a Department of Transportation directive to give precedence to communities with higher marriage and birth rates, as reported by research.

Reactions from critics and women suggest doubt about the effectiveness of these policies. According to Aftonbladet, Maria described the government's plan to increase childbirth as 'pathetic' and 'cruel and completely ineffective', and she added that she does not see herself as a mother and sees no reason why she would be happier having children. Women that AFP has spoken to do not believe it will work, and according to Aftonbladet, Anastasia described that first, one must create conditions that make a woman actually want children, not pressure her in every possible way.

The implications of the demographic decline are profound, with Putin warning of potential extinction if trends continue. Russia is experiencing a severe demographic crisis due to a shrinking population, accelerated by the war in Ukraine, high mortality rates, and low birth rates, and there are estimates that Russia's population will fall to about 132 million in the next two decades, based on research. This has driven the government's aggressive policy responses, though their long-term success is uncertain.

Unknowns persist regarding the implementation and impact of specific policies. It is unclear whether the sperm testing proposal for men who visit saunas has been officially implemented or is still under consideration. The exact number of women who have been referred to psychologists under the new guidelines and the outcomes of such referrals have not been confirmed. Additionally, the specific regions in Russia where financial incentives for young women to have children are being offered and the uptake rates remain unspecified, and the full extent of the impact of the war in Ukraine on Russia's demographic crisis, including precise casualty figures and emigration numbers, is not fully known. The effectiveness of the new policies in actually increasing birth rates, as opposed to anecdotal reports from critics and women, is yet to be determined.