Ukraine birth rate drops 17%, demographer says

Baby items. Photo: AI-generated

In the first half of 2026, the number of births in Ukraine fell by 17% compared to the same period last year, according to Dmytro Shushpanov, head of a department at the Institute of Demography of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

“Over the past six months, the number of children born in Ukraine was 17% lower than in the same period last year. We have not seen such a rapid decline in births in previous years. This time, we recorded a rather grim figure – just 73,000 births in six months. That is an extremely low number for Ukraine,” the expert said.

Shushpanov also criticized proposals to draft women into military service, warning of the potential consequences for the country's demographic future.

“If we are talking about involving women in military service as well, this would further significantly reduce our reproductive potential. But we must think about the future. From the standpoint of reproductive potential, Ukraine's future, and its children, women must certainly be protected,” the demographer stressed.

The country's average number of births per woman has also fallen from 1.14 before February 2022 to 0.8–0.9. Shushpanov further warned that Ukraine could face another demographic blow after the war ends, as men may leave the country to reunite with their families living abroad.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that an analyst had predicted the disappearance of the Ukrainian nation within 50 years.

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