Ukraine has the highest mortality and lowest birthrate on the planet

Ukraine faces a demographic crisis. Photo: novosti-n

In 2024, Ukraine’s mortality rate is almost three times higher than its birthrate. This ratio was previously about 2:1 in 2018–2020, according to Victoria Wagner, a member of the Verkhovna Rada’s Committee on National Health, as reported by NV.

Citing data from the Ministry of Justice, Wagner noted that Ukraine’s 2024 mortality rate is the highest globally, at 18.6 per 1,000 people. From January to June 2024, there were 87,655 births and 250,972 deaths in Ukraine.

"During the first half of 2024, 87,655 children were born in Ukraine. This is 9% fewer than in the first half of 2023 and 1.5 times fewer than in the same period in 2021. In 2023, just over 187,000 children were born in Ukraine, the lowest number in the country’s history. The figure for 2024 is set to break this anti-record. In 2022, 207,000 children were born, and in 2021, 277,800," the report states.

Negative demographic trends have been observed since 2013, with a 3.3% drop in births that year. Birthrates declined further by 7.5% in 2014 and 11.6% in 2015. While the pace of decline slowed in the early 2020s, Wagner noted that after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine became a "global leader in depopulation."

As reported by the UOJ, the UN has projected how many Ukrainians will remain in the country by 2100.

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