Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly encouraged citizens to take part in sexual activity during work breaks to combat the country’s declining birth rate. As per a Metro report, this approach comes in response to Russia’s fertility rate, which currently stands at 1.5 children per woman, well below the 2.1 needed for population stability.
This initiative also follows the emigration of over a million young Russians, who have left due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. “The preservation of the Russian people is our highest national priority. The fate of Russia…depends on how many of us there will be. It is a question of national importance,” Putin was quoted saying by Metro.
Russian Health Minister Yevgeny Shestopalov echoed these concerns, dismissing the notion that busy work schedules should be an excuse. “You can engage in procreation during breaks because life flies by too quickly,” Metro reported him saying. When asked how those working 12 to 14 hours would find time to procreate, he responded, “During break times.”
Russia’s birth rate hit its lowest point since 1999, with June 2024 births falling below 100,000. Rosstat, the state statistics agency, revealed a decrease of 16,000 births from January to June 2024, compared to the same period last year, further heightened by a population decline of 49,000 more deaths, likely due to the war in Ukraine.
The Kremlin has introduced several measures to address this issue. These include free fertility checks for women aged 18 to 40 in Moscow, and financial incentives like Chelyabinsk’s offer of £8,500 to female students under 24 for their first child. Additionally, access to abortion is being restricted, divorce fees have increased, and public figures are urging women to prioritize childbirth. Politician Anna Kuznetsova advocated for starting families early, saying, “Starting at 19 or 20 allows families to potentially have three, four, or more children.”
MP Zhanna Ryabtseva added, “Give birth, give birth, and give birth again. You need to start having children at 18.” There is also speculation that Putin may want citizens to follow his example of having multiple children. If current trends continue, Russia’s population is projected to drop from 144 million to as low as 130 million by 2050.