Ukraine’s Population Decline Exceeds 10 Million Amid Ongoing Conflict, UN Reports

Ukraine’s population has experienced a significant decline of over 10 million people since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This sharp drop is attributed to a combination of factors, including the mass exodus of refugees and a plummeting birth rate.

Florence Bauer, the UNFPA’s regional director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, emphasized that the population decline is linked to the war’s profound impact. Since the invasion, an estimated 6.7 million people have fled Ukraine, seeking refuge in other countries, further contributing to the country’s demographic crisis. Additionally, Ukraine already had one of the lowest birth rates in Europe before the conflict, but the war has exacerbated the situation, with the birth rate now standing at around one child per woman — one of the lowest in the world. This rate is far below the 2.1 children per woman needed to maintain population stability.

Bauer also noted that the casualties from the ongoing war have further intensified the population decline. Combined with the long-standing trend of young people leaving Ukraine in search of better opportunities, these factors have contributed to the country’s demographic challenges, raising concerns about Ukraine’s long-term population sustainability.