Russian Fertility Rate Drops To Lowest Level Since Soviet Era

Russia's fertility rate has dropped to its lowest levels since the Soviet era, which ended over 35 years ago.

The reasons for the decline are the decimation of the male population in rural and poor urban areas due to the death rate for Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, and to fears about the Russian economy, which have both inhibited the formation of new families. JL

Novaya Gazeta reports:

The average fertility rate in areas of Russia fell to its lowest level since Soviet times last year, citing data from state statistics agency Rosstat. The country’s rural total fertility rate (TFR) stood at 1.464 in 2025. For comparison, the rural TFR was 2.6 in 1990.  Russia's overall fertility rate in 2025 stood at 1.361, compared with 1.327 among the urban population. The rural rate saw the steepest year-on-year decline, falling by 0.06 compared with 2024. Rural areas have ceased to be the main driver of population replacement, as young people leave for cities in search of better-paying jobs and stronger infrastructure. 

The average fertility rate in rural areas of Russia fell to its lowest level since Soviet times last year, independent outlet RusNews reported on Thursday, citing data from state statistics agency Rosstat.

The country’s rural total fertility rate (TFR) stood at 1.464 in 2025. For comparison, the rural TFR was 2.6 in 1990, and its most recent peak came in 2014, when it reached 2.272.

The highest rural TFRs last year were recorded in the Nenets Autonomous District, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, and the Republic of Tuva. The lowest were seen in the Leningrad region, occupied Sevastopol, and Mordovia.

Russia's overall fertility rate in 2025 stood at 1.361, compared with 1.327 among the urban population. The rural rate saw the steepest year-on-year decline, falling by 0.06 compared with 2024.

Experts note that rural areas have ceased to be the main driver of population replacement, as young people leave for cities in search of better-paying jobs and stronger infrastructure. The closure of maternity hospitals in rural areas and the concentration of quality healthcare in larger urban centers further distort the statistics: women are increasingly travelling to cities to give birth.