In Ukraine, death rate continues to triple birth rate

Ukraine’s population is rapidly declining. Photo: Ukrainian Radio

The demographic situation in Ukraine remains critical: according to data from the State Statistics Service, in the first half of 2025, the death rate exceeded the birth rate by 2.9 times.

From January to June of this year, 249,000 deaths were registered in the country, compared to just 86,800 births. This results in a natural population decline of over 162,000 people in just six months.

Critical Situation in Border Regions
The most severe demographic conditions are found in regions hardest hit by the war:

• Kherson region: 12.2 deaths for every newborn (196 births vs. 2,388 deaths);
• Donetsk region: a ratio of 1 to 10.3 (374 births vs. 3,858 deaths);
• Zaporizhzhia region: 1,462 births vs. 7,360 registered deaths.

Compared to the second half of 2024, the trend is worsening: birth rates have fallen by 2.5%, while death rates have risen by 2%.

The highest absolute number of births was recorded in Kyiv – 9,947 children; however, the capital also reported a high mortality rate – 18,114 deaths over six months.

Over the past ten years, the birth rate in Ukraine has dropped 2.2 times, indicating a long-term demographic crisis now exacerbated by ongoing events.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Ukraine currently has the highest death rate and the lowest birth rate on the planet.

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