Ukraine's population crisis: 10 million lost to war and decline
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.
"The Ukraine population has declined by over 10 million," stated UNFPA Regional Director Florence Bauer at a press conference in Geneva.
She added that this drop is due to a "combination of factors" and emphasized that Ukraine faced a "serious demographic challenge even before the escalation of hostilities."
"The birth rate fell to just around one child per woman, and that’s one of the lowest in the world," Bauer reminded.
She noted that this is common in Eastern Europe, where many countries exhibit a similar trend. "But with the full-scale invasion of Russia starting in 2022, the situation has gotten significantly worse," she stressed.
Bauer emphasized that the fertility rate has dropped to roughly one child per woman, one of the lowest rates in the world and significantly lower than 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.
